EPA RELEASES AUDIT ON CHANNEL DEEPENING PROJECT

19 December 2005

EPA Victoria today released its environmental audit of the Channel Deepening Project - Trial Dredge Program, reporting on the Port of Melbourne Corporation’s (PoMC's) compliance with their Environmental Management Plan (EMP). The audit also includes the separate report from the environmental auditor on the rock fall at the heads.

The audit, conducted by Dr David Telford from GHD, found a generally high level of compliance by PoMC, with the majority of requirements of the EMP being met.

“The EMP was required as part of the approval process for the Trial Dredge Program and outlined detailed environmental performance criteria to be met during the trial,” said EPA Victoria Chairman, Mick Bourke.

“The audit was commissioned by EPA in its role to independently assess the PoMC's environmental performance against the requirements of their EMP,” Mr Bourke said.

Key exceptions to the overall compliance were the rock fall into the Canyon at the Heads of Port Phillip Bay and a small amount of dredging outside the approved area between Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff.

The auditor found the EMP requirement; that when dredging towards the canyon the draghead will be lifted 50 metres before reaching the canyon to avoid rock fall; was not fully complied with. This lead him to form the view that as this work method was established to avoid rock fall, and was not fully complied with, that this action may have contributed to the rock fall.

What caused or contributed to the rock fall is also currently being investigated by the PoMC, and the auditor is still gathering information to assess the environmental impacts in the canyon.

“Developing the EMP and testing it as part of the trial helps build confidence as well as identifying issues for improvement associated with the environmental management of such a project,” Mr Bourke said.

“It is important that the audit findings are incorporated into PoMC thinking around any future EMP, and that systems are in place to ensure compliance,” Mr Bourke said.

EPA has provided a copy of the environmental audit reports to both PoMC and the Department of Sustainability and Environment for further consideration and action as appropriate. Copies are available on EPA’s website at www.epa.vic.gov.au.