“The contaminated material that was required to be moved by the large dredging vessels has all been removed. It has been in that designated material ground since late October. By the environmental management plan we then have to wait a minimum of 140 days after which point we will cap the material.”

Despite this, a large dredge was photographed operating in the Yarra on Feb 14, 2009; and the dredge schedule published on the Channel Project website (link below) indicates dredging of contaminated Yarra material would continue until Feb 18, 2009.

http://www.channelproject.com/global/docs/Dredging_Schedules/SCHD-Rev2-update1-EMP-dredging-schedule-090204.pdf

Cornelis Zanen dredging near Westgate Bridge, Feb 2009

Has the CEO been misquoted or misinformed? In either event, we’re left wondering about the “140 days” required to allow contaminated sediments dumped in the Bay to consolidate before capping can be placed on them. In the same news article, the CEO is reported to have said “The 140 days expires on or around February 17″. Clearly, dredging of contaminated Yarra sediments has continued well into February 2009; so 140 days after dredging ceased would actually be on or around July 7, 2009.

Unfortunately, the study of past industrial uses which might have contributed contaminants to the Yarra sediments did not note that 506 Lorimer Street Fishermens Bend was used for uranium research from the 1940s to 1960s.  As this past land use was not picked up by the study, the Channel Deepening project Yarra sediment sampling did not test for  radioactive contaminants.

Investigations of 506 Lorimer Street in 1989 found radioactive contamination throughout the buildings and grounds and in a 380mm pipe leading to the Yarra.  As a result, thousands of  tonnes of contaminated soil were removed from the site.  But there appears to have been no investigation or action taken on the nearby Yarra sediments.

Baykeeper calls for sediments near the stormwater pipe outlet to be tested to ensure there’s no risk to the Bay environment or people who eat fish from it.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Phone the Port of Melbourne Corporation Channel Deepening information line on (03) 9683 1538 and ask why processing of uranium was not mentioned in Appendix 36 of the Channel Deepening Supplementary Environment Effects Study…. AND

Phone the Office of the Environmental Monitor on (03) 9637 8235 and ask for a written summary of the scientific processes they’ve undertaken in the Yarra to rule out the need to test the sediments near Lorimer Street for radioactive contaminants.

DON’T HOLD YOUR BREATH.