Dredging works at entrance to Port Philip complete

Australia: Dredging works at the entrance to Port Phillip as part of the Channel Deepening Project have been completed.

It is the first time in the port’s history the entrance has been deepened without the use of explosives, a practice ceased in 1986. CEO of the Port of Melbourne Corporation (PoMC) Stephen Bradford said that, subject to the final sign-off by the Minister for Environment and Climate Change, the dredging operations were technically complete. “To carry out this work at the entrance on schedule and within budget is a significant achievement,” he said. Deepening at the entrance represented the most technically challenging aspect of the project, mainly because it is one of the most turbulent and potentially dangerous stretches of water in Bass Strait. Mr Bradford also acknowledged Netherlands-based Royal Boskalis Westminster for its dredging works with the vessel ‘Queen of the Netherlands’. “We are pleased modifications made to the technology and work methods were effective, and that turbidity levels continued to remain well below environmental limits,” he said. “We also were able to minimise disruption to commercial shipping which was an important outcome for our exporters and importers,” he added. Mr Bradford said the completion of dredging works did not mean work at the entrance would cease. “In line with the requirements of the project’s Environmental Management Plan, clean–up operations of residual material have occurred to appropriately manage the potential for rockfall at the entrance. “We have conducted underwater video surveillance at the entrance and further monitoring activities are scheduled.” He added that surveying the entrance was scheduled to be on going for the next ten years.
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