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Overview of the Channel Deepening Project

The channel deepening project is deepening sections of the shipping channels to the Port of Melbourne to accommodate vessels with a draught of up to 14 metres.

The project started in February 2008 after receiving approval from the state of Victoria under the Coastal Management Act 1995, and the commonwealth under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

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EPA’s involvement in the Channel Deepening Project

EPA has worked over several years to ensure that key environmental issues associated with the Channel Deepening Project are identified and managed.

EPA is providing support to the Office of the Environmental Monitor, and investigating reports of pollution, as required.

EPA has made the powers it holds under the Environment Protection Act 1970 more widely available, to ensure that all parties involved in the day to day regulation of the project have all relevant powers at their disposal.

The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) administers the Coastal Management Act consent (the main Victorian environmental approval for the project) on behalf of the Minister for the Environment. EPA will support the Secretary in his role of ensuring the Port of Melbourne Corporation (PoMC) complies with the terms of its approval.

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EPA and the Independent Monitor

Mick Bourke, Chairman of EPA has been appointed as the Environmental Monitor for the Channel Deepening Project to advise relevant ministers and the Secretary DSE on the environmental performance of Port of Melbourne Corporation.

Further information about the role and activities of the Office of the Environmental Monitor is available at its website. External site linkDuring this period, Mick Bourke will remain Chairman of EPA.  For the purposes of the Channel Deepening Project all powers and responsibilities under the Environment Protection Act, have been delegated to other senior staff at EPA to enable appropriate separation of roles.

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EPA Monitoring Programs

EPA is conducting the Water Quality Monitoring Program and the 2009 Lower Yarra Fish Study, two of the 13 Baywide Monitoring Programs outlined in the Projects Environmental Management Plan. Follow this link for more information on these Baywide Monitoring Programs Baywide Monitoring Programs.

In addition, in response to the communities desire for up to date information about beach water quality, in 2008 EPA extended its existing beach monitoring program to run year round and include a wider range of analytes. Follow this link for more information on the Beach Monitoring Program Beach Monitoring Program.

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Supplementary Environment Effects Statement (SEES)

On 21 March 2007 the Port of Melbourne Corporation (PoMC) released its Supplementary Environment Effects Statement (SEES) for the further investigation and assessment of the Channel Deepening Project. The SEES incorporates information from the original Environment Effects Statement (EES), the Trial Dredge Program, and additional environmental studies of Port Phillip Bay.

Through the development of the SEES, EPA has provided advice regarding the statutory requirements under the Environment Protection Act 1970 and associated State environment protection policies. This has included guidance on the application of ‘best practice’ environmental management, as set out in the State environment protection policy (Waters of Victoria), to dredging in Port Phillip Bay.

View advice regarding the application of Best Practice to the Channel Deepening Project. (PDF file, 70KB) pdf document

EPA made a submission to Planning Panels Victoria on 7 May 2007, to assist the Inquiry to understand the obligations on the PoMC and others arising from the Environment Protection Act 1970 and relevant subordinate legislation.

View the EPA submission to the Channel Deepening Project SEES. ( PDF file, 279 KB) pdf document

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Trial Dredge Program - EPA Final Audit Reports

On 19 December 2005 EPA Victoria released its environmental audit of the Channel Deepening Project - Trial Dredge Program.

View media release about the environmental audit.

The audit comprised three reports:

  • Trial Dredge Program - Environmental Audit, Phase 1 report (pre-commencement of trial):
    This report (PDF file, 415KB) pdf document reviewed the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) established for the trial dredge program and commented on its compliance with recognised environmental management standards and the ability to audit the EMP.
  • Trial Dredge Program - Assessment of Rock Falls Procedure:
    This report (PDF file, 2843KB) pdf document was prepared in response to a direction from EPA to assess the PoMC's compliance with the EMP and associated dredging protocols specifically relating to the rock fall reported by PoMC.
  • Trial Dredge Program - Environmental Audit Report:
    This is the audit report (Adobe PDF file, 384KB) pdf document on the compliance of PoMC with the trial dredge EMP.

On 17 August 2006, EPA released the final Audit report into the Trial Dredge Program undertaken by Port of Melbourne Corporation (PoMC). The audit assessed the impact of rock fall in the Port Phillip Heads as a result of the trial dredge program.

View media release on the audit assessment of rock fall impact

  • Trial Dredge Program - Deep Reef Impact Assessment:
    This report pdf document (PDF file, 2343KB) provides an assessment of the ecological impact of the rock fall initiated by the Trial Dredge Program. It comprises an assessment of the evaluation method applied, the data collected and the conclusions drawn in the report prepared by PoMC (Appendix A of the Auditors report - PDF file, 22MB) pdf document.

More Information
Further information on the Channel Deepening Project is available at:

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