News – June 2, 2008
The Herald Sun newspaper reports that the dredger Cornelis Zanen, dubbed ‘CoZa’, has begin dredging toxic sediments from the Yarra River Channel in Australia.
Port of Melbourne Corporation CEO Stephen Bradford said measures were in place to minimise disruption to marine life and water quality.
He said: “The sediment will be placed below 15m under water, where wind and currents generally do not affect the sea floor and sediments are not moved by tides. This process will ensure no adverse influence on water quality.”
Protesters launched a legal action in the Federal Court to stop dredging in the Yarra and the bay, but failed.
Blue Wedges president Jenny Warfe said the dredging was the most contentious part of the corporation’s $1 billion project.
Environmental Monitor director Don Hough said contaminated materials in the Yarra included arsenic, lead and zinc. He said the dredging would be closely scrutinised by the independent Office of the Environmental Monitor.
“The community can be reassured all these sediments have been very carefully evaluated,” he said. “They have been evaluated through a public process available in the public domain and they can be guaranteed the office will be scrutinising this work very carefully.”