By Roxanne Millar
A FORMER Greens candidate concerned that the deepening of Port Phillip Bay would turn it into a “toxic sewer” has urged Hobsons Bay residents to protest against the proposal.
Michele Finey said the State Government plan for full-scale channel deepening in the bay would destroy its ecology and result in widespread destruction of fish stocks.
She is worried that dredging could stir up toxic sediments and resultant turbidity would block sunlight from penetrating the bay’s surface.
The Port of Melbourne Corporation wants to deepen the channel to accommodate bigger ships.
In Hobsons Bay, work to achieve that would include dredging the Williamstown Channel and the lower Yarra River, installing and modifying navigational aids and alterations to berths.
Ms Finey, who was an unsuccessful Greens candidate for Williamstown in the 2002 State Government election, said locals needed to find out more about the proposal.
“They would be shocked at the facts and how it will impact on the bay,” she said.
“The Government admits it is going to kill fish stocks — what are we going to eat if there are no fish?
“Once they’ve stirred up the bottom of the bay they can’t possibly predict what will happen.”
Ms Finey said the project was unnecessary since researchers had predicted that the sea level was likely to rise within 10 years due to global warming.
A long-term opponent of the proposal, the Blue Wedges Coalition, said the most concerning aspect was the appointment of a panel to consider the environmental effects statement.
On the panel is Australian National University chancellor Dr Allan Hawke, Planning Panels Victoria’s chief panel member Kathryn Mitchell, and Flinders Management Group managing director Dr Mike Lisle-Williams.
Blue Wedges president Jenny Warfe said none of the panel members had environmental qualifications.
“They appear to be representing more of a development side of things,” Ms Warfe said.
Blue Wedges is planning a protest rally in May.
Ms Finey said Hobsons Bay residents opposed to the plan should make themselves heard by attending.
“People should be worried, so I urge them to get involved. The weight of numbers will get us heard.”
She said residents should consider signing up to Blue Wedges for regular updates on the issue. Go to www.bluewedges.org.
People can see the environmental effects statement in full at the Hobsons Bay Civic Centre, 115 Civic Pde, Altona and the Williamstown Library, 104 Ferguson St, Williamstown until 7 May.
