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Dredging - Office of the Environmental Monitor

Dredging Port Phillip Bay


Dredging of Port Phillip Bay to deepen the existing shipping channels began on 8 February 2008.

The Office of the Environmental Monitor brings an added layer of scrutiny to the Port Phillip Bay
Channel Deepening Project. The Office provides an around-the-clock, independent and transparent view of the environmental performance of the dredging project to the regulators and the Victorian community.

Led by the
Environmental Monitor, Mick Bourke, the Office uses a wide range of information and monitoring data to assess whether or not the project has followed the rules set by the Environmental Management Plan.

Data from more than 20 monitoring programs operating across Port Phillip Bay is routinely examined by the Office to detect any changes to its health.

The results from these programs are made available to the community on this website, which aims to be a one-stop-shop for all data, information,
reports and advice on the project.


Little Penguin foraging trips revealed

Research shows that during winter Phillip Island’s Little Penguins spend time in Port Phillip Bay looking for food such as anchovies.

Click here to view the results from a winter satellite tracking program, and the foraging movements of two penguins from Phillip Island.

Photo: Phillip Island Little Penguin with satellite tracking device. Coutesy of Phillip Island Nature Park.

Report on South Channel partial non conformance released

Photo: Hampton Beach, Port Phillip Bay
The Office has released its report and advice on the Port of Melbourne Corporation's partial non conformance against one of the Environmental Management Plan's 58 rules.

On 19 April 2009 the Queen of the Netherlands dredged outside areas set by the EMP for South Channel, near Hovell Pile.

The Office is satisfied that the environmental impacts on the partial non conformance were negligible.


Quarterly Review No.5 released

Photo: Brighton beach bathing boxes
The Office has released its Quarterly Review No. 5. The review provides an independent and transparent view of the dredging project's environmental performance from 1 March to 31 May 2009.

The review found that the results from programs that monitor seagrass, Little Penguins, water quality, algal blooms and fish stocks were consistent with data collected over the past decade.


2009 Lower Yarra River Fish Study results released

Photo: Black bream from the lower Yarra River were tested for contaminants.
The first study of contaminant concentrations in fish since dredging began has confirmed fish from the lower Yarra River are still safe to eat.

The 2009 Lower Yarra River Fish Study revealed very low concentrations of contaminants in Yarra River fish.

The study found that the contaminant concentrations in fish sampled in 2009 were generally lower than the concentrations recorded in 2006 and were below the guideline levels for Australian Food Standards.
Read more.

Weekly project update
26 June to 3 July 2009

Links
2009 Lower Yarra River Fish Study

Channel Deepening Project website

Environmental Management Plan

Channel Deepening Environmental Assessment

Channel Deepening Project schedule

Port of Melbourne Corporation website

Delft Report, 2006

News
01/07/2009
Turbidity below dredging project's limits


24/06/2009
Report released on South Channel dredging non conformance


17/06/2009
Weather affects turbidity in Hobsons Bay


10/06/2009
Background bay turbidity


03/06/2009
Turbidity below Bay safeguards


27/05/2009
Yarra River fish safe to eat after dredging


21/05/2009
Entrance deep reef monitored


20/05/2009
Turbidity stays below dredging limits


Archived media releases