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 STOP DUMPING SPOIL IN PORT PHILLIP BAY. |
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The Bracks Government must take immediate action to ensure that material dredged from Port Phillip Bay to deepen the shipping channel is not dumped elsewhere in the Bay.
There is no doubt that the intention of the Port of Melbourne Corporation to dump 28 million cubic metres of dredged material off the coast at Mount Martha would be environmental vandalism at its worst.
What is equally alarming is that a further 15 million cubic metres of clay and silt, that is described by the Corporation as "moderately contaminated", will be dumped in the existing dumping ground off the coast at Brighton.
Recently Dr. Graham Harris, a renowned environmentalist and an expert on Port Phillip Bay, said that there are fundamental uncertainties about the dumping of such a huge amount of dredged material in the waters off Mount Martha and Brighton. His view has added to the sense of alarm that is felt by a great many people who fear for the future of Port Phillip Bay.
The Bracks Government should immediately cease its contemplation of this 'easy way out' approach to the disposal of dredged material, and it should clearly understand that many thousands of Victorians will not stand by and allow the Labor Party to go unscathed, should it give the green light to the creation of another dumping ground anywhere in Port Phillip Bay.
There are alternative onshore locations for the disposal of such material, and the Government should make it clear right now to the Port of Melbourne Corporation that it will only be an onshore site that will approved should the channel deepening project proceed.
17 September, 2004
