IN ONE of the last acts by the body set up to monitor the environmental impact of dredging in Port Phillip Bay, it has given the waterway a clean bill of health.
The Office of the Environmental Monitor which is to be closed in June said that after the massive channel deepening project of 2008 and 2009, Port Phillip has retained high water quality when compared with 10 years ago.
In its fourth and final annual review of bay health, the office also said that while it was clear large storms caused localised declines in bay water quality through increased runoff mainly from the Yarra River these effects were short term with no lasting damage.
On several days this summer some bay beaches were closed to swimmers by the Environment Protection Authority when they recorded high bacterial levels after heavy rain.
Today all beaches are rated good or fair for swimming.
In its bay review released yesterday, the OEM said the conditions of the dredging project's environmental monitoring plan were met during 2011 and changes associated with the project had met expected levels.
The OEM has rejected claims that recent beach erosion most notably at Portsea is the result of dredging.
In other findings it said a decline in sandy flathead fish in the bay had begun in the 1960s and was not the result of the dredging of 2008-09. It said the bay dredging project has resulted in a permanent one centimetre change in tide levels.
Victorian Environment Minister Ryan Smith said in a statement that the authority had analysed more than 600 monitoring reports to determine the bay was in good health.
"The OEM receives reports on everything from nutrient levels, the seagrass growth, water quality, bacteria levels and fish stocks so it is in a unique position to keep Victorians informed about how the bay environment is travelling," Mr Smith said.
He said he had asked his department and the authority to take steps to address the poor water quality in the Yarra River affecting the bay.
President of the Blue Wedges Coalition, which campaigned strongly against the dredging, Jenny Warfe, dismissed the report and said the OEM had failed to properly explain the massive erosion at Portsea beach. She added that, at the least, there needed to be better monitoring for leakage of millions of tonnes of "toxic" sediment from the Yarra mouth now in the middle of the bay.
Environment Victoria chief executive Kelly O'Shanassy said there needed to be better and ongoing monitoring of the bay and identification of who was responsible for its health.
The OEM monitoring was set up in 2007 by the former state Labor government in response to community concern about the impact of the dredging project.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
What did the Office of the Environmental Monitor (OEM) find about Port Phillip Bay water quality?
In its fourth and final annual review the OEM gave Port Phillip Bay a clean bill of health, saying the bay has retained high water quality compared with 10 years earlier. The OEM analysed more than 600 monitoring reports covering nutrients, seagrass, water quality, bacteria and fish stocks.
Did the 2008–09 channel deepening dredging harm Port Phillip Bay’s water quality?
The OEM reported the dredging project's environmental monitoring plan conditions were met during 2011 and that changes associated with the project were at expected levels. The office rejected claims that recent beach erosion was caused by the dredging.
Why were some Port Phillip Bay beaches closed to swimmers during the summer?
Beaches were temporarily closed by the Environment Protection Authority after heavy rain produced high bacterial levels. The OEM said these water-quality declines from storms were short-term and did not cause lasting damage; today the beaches are rated good or fair for swimming.
How do storms and the Yarra River affect Port Phillip Bay water quality?
The OEM found large storms cause localized, short-term declines in bay water quality mainly through increased runoff from the Yarra River. Victorian Environment Minister Ryan Smith has asked his department to take steps to address poor Yarra River water quality because it affects the bay.
Was there any lasting physical change to the bay from the dredging project?
Yes. The OEM noted the bay dredging project resulted in a permanent one-centimetre change in tide levels.
What did the OEM report say about sandy flathead fish stocks in the bay?
The OEM concluded the decline in sandy flathead began in the 1960s and was not the result of the 2008–09 dredging project.
Who disagreed with the OEM findings and what did they want?
The Blue Wedges Coalition, which campaigned against the dredging, dismissed the OEM report and called for better monitoring for leakage of millions of tonnes of 'toxic' sediment from the Yarra mouth. Environment Victoria also urged improved and ongoing bay monitoring and clearer identification of who is responsible for the bay's health.
What is the future of the OEM and why was it set up?
The OEM was set up in 2007 by the former state Labor government in response to community concern about the impact of the dredging project. The office is to be closed in June after releasing its fourth and final annual bay-health review.
Call 1300 880 160
Start a chat
Schedule a call
