Channel deepening in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria’s largest ever marine infrastructure project, has been completed ahead of schedule and more than $200 million under budget, according to the Victorian Government.
Unveiling a 10-metre high sculpture at the Port of Melbourne today to mark project completion, Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas said the end of the Channel Deepening Project was a significant milestone and would help to build a prosperous future for all Victorians.
“Completion of this nation building project well ahead of time and at least $200 million under budget is more evidence that Victoria is the Australian leader in delivering large-scale infrastructure projects,” Mr Pallas said.
“We never lost sight of the high regard Victorians have for Port Phillip Bay and we put in place the most stringent set of environmental controls ever applied to a dredging project in Australia.
“As a result, the bay is in a healthy condition, water quality is good and there have been no significant effects on public amenity.”
Work on the Channel Deepening Project to increase the allowable shipping depth in Port Phillip Bay from 11.6 metres to 14 metres started on 8 February, 2008, and included removal of almost 23 million cubic metres of sand and clay from the shipping channels.
The project created about 2,300 jobs during construction with port activities supporting a further 14,000 jobs.
Port of Melbourne Corporation chief executive officer Stephen Bradford said figures from this year’s September quarter clearly indicated the need to deepen the shipping channels, with nearly 54 per cent of container vessels using the port unable to load to full capacity.
“The 14 metre allowable shipping depth to come into effect at midnight tonight will completely remove this serious constraint at the port,” Mr Bradford said.
“This new depth marks the beginning of the Port of Melbourne’s promise to ensure that Victoria’s major sea highway to the world can meet our long term trade demands. It will see Australia’s largest container port remain a driving engine for trade, business and economic growth.”
The end of the project was marked with Mr Pallas unveiling a sculpture as a gift to the Port of Melbourne from Royal Boskalis Westminster, the project’s Alliance partner, to be displayed at the Port Education Centre.
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