Kwinana Quay Environmental Review and Management Program Fremantle Ports
Fremantle Ports engaged BMT to project manage and provide expert technical advice on marine environmental assessment of a major port facility.
Fremantle Ports engaged BMT to project manage and provide expert technical advice on marine environmental assessment of a major port facility.
Fremantle Ports has proposed to develop a major outer harbour port facility (Kwinana Quay) within Cockburn Sound to accommodate long-term container trade growth beyond 2020. BMT was engaged to undertake the environmental impact assessment (EIA) and approvals required for the marine component of the proposal.
At an early stage of design and assessment of site options, BMT was charged with bringing together a team of specialists and scoping key potential environmental issues. Following referral of the preferred project option, the Environmental Protection Authority considered that the proposal raised several, complex potential environmental impacts, and set a requirement for the highest level of regulatory assessment – an Environmental Review and Management Program (ERMP).
Over a period of years, BMT undertook or arranged all requisite technical investigations and surveys to assess potential impacts from the proposed dredging, marine infrastructure construction and operation on: coastal erosion, water and sediment quality (including hydrodynamic modelling and field validation), seagrass and other benthic habitats, ecosystem integrity, penguins, dolphins, fisheries, marine pests, aquaculture and marine recreation values. The findings of these surveys were workshopped in a risk assessment framework to identify the key environmental issues requiring mitigation and management.
Following the intensive studies, BMT synthesised all findings into Draft ERMP document, including a comprehensive Marine Monitoring and Management Program, on behalf of Fremantle Ports and for consideration by environmental regulators.
Fremantle Ports trusted BMT to oversee marine monitoring of major dredging and reclamation works, in full public view, for Western Australia's largest metropolitan port.
The Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd (PBPL) has developed an environmental monitoring program which aims to provide an understanding of the condition, values and stressors operating at and adjacent to the port area.
Building on the Port of Cairns Cruise Shipping Demand Study undertaken by BMT in 2010 – 2011, BMT is working with project partner Arup to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Port of Cairns Shipping Development Project.
The proposed expansion of the Port of Townsville involves significant dredging of sea bed materials to provide for vessel access, maneuvering and berthing.