Melbourne channel deepening completion marked

Port of Melbourne Corporation chief executive Stephen Bradford said figures from this year’s September quarter clearly indicated the need to deepen the shipping channels, with almost 54% of containerships using the port unable to load to full capacity.

"The 14-metre allowable shipping depth 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 Victorian ports minister Tim Pallas unveiling a 10-metre sculpture, a gift to the Port of Melbourne from Royal Boskalis Westminster, the project’s Alliance partner, to be displayed at the Port Education Centre.

Work on the Channel Deepening Project to increase the allowable shipping depth in Port Phillip Bay from 11.6 metres to 14 metres began in February last year and included removal of almost 23m cubic metres of sand and clay from shipping channels.

"Completion of this nation-building project, well ahead of time and at least $200m 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."

The declaration of a 14-metre draught was a major milestone for Melbourne, Victoria and the nation, according to the Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI).

"This is a historic project in terms of its implications for Melbourne as a port city and signals to the rest of the world that Melbourne is open for business,” VECCI chief executive Wayne Kayler-Thomson said.

"The Victorian Government and the Port of Melbourne Corporation deserve congratulations for completing the project ahead of time with no major environmental breaches.

"With the channel deepened, we are also now well-positioned as a state to take advantage of the recovery of world trade that will occur in coming years".