Dredging Independent Audits

Port Phillip Bay tides height data

Aerial photo of Port Phillip Bay and Melbourne CBD

Modelling done as part of the Supplementary Environment Effects Statement for the Channel Deepening Project indicated that Port Phillip Bay tides would slightly increase as a result of dredging the Entrance to the bay.

During discussion between the Office and stakeholders in early 2008, there was strong community interest in the assessment of the actual changes against those predicted. Interest was stimulated by surges in water height associated with major storms.

The Channel Deepening Project's Environmental Management Plan requires that monitoring of tidal data in the bay be collected for at least one year after completion of construction activities.

It was agreed that the Office would oversee this project. In September 2008, the Office contracted the National Tidal Centre (NTC) of the Australian Governments Bureau of Meteorology to analyse the tidal data and prepare a report identifying changes to tide conditions in the bay.

It was determined that the project would commence on completion of excavation dredging activities at the Entrance to the bay.

As part of this project, the NTC will produce 11 monthly reports from October 2008 to August 2009 detailing results found.

A final report covering all tidal data from October 2008 to September 2009 will be released late in 2009.

The reports can be accessed from the links in the table below as they become available.