Fremantle port deepening sparks concern

The second phase of deepening the Fremantle Inner Port commenced last week, but not without criticism, reported the Fremantle Cockburn Gazette.

While the first phase removed the sand layer, the second breaks up and removes limestone from the river, which is then deposited 7km off Cottesloe Beach.

Fremantle Ports chief executive officer Chris Leatt-Hayter said there would be cloudy water upstream of the harbour and offshore from the port temporarily.

Although the EPA gave approval, Fremantle MLA Adele Carles said she was concerned the dredging was happening in winter, because the initial proposal from the ports said unacceptable impacts would happen in winter.

You really have to question why the EPA has allowed the dredging to resume when all of their assessment and approvals was for dredging during the summer months when the plume was supposed to be minimised, she said.

Leatt-Hayter said the deepening was essential so the port could cater to bigger container ships.

He added that monitoring showed contamination from the silts removal met both marine ecosystem and health guidelines.

However, the monitoring did find some tar-like petroleum, possibly from ships fuel bunker pipes, and copper hot spots during inner harbour dredging.

National Toxic Networks secretary Lee Bell said some of the readings appeared to exceed limits. The dredgings monitoring had the potential to miss new contamination because it was being done at five-metre intervals.

Although mainly dealing with the rock under burden, there may be new hotspots hit by the dredger that will mix with the sediment plume and enter the river and marine food chain, he said.
(Source:www.cargonewsasia.com)