VECCI has lodged a comprehensive submission on the Port Phillip Bay Channel Deepening Environmental Effects Statement (EES). The ESS investigated the deepening of commercial shipping channels into and within Port Phillip Bay and assessed the economic, environmental and social impacts of the project. Our submission stresses the importance of the Port of Melbourne as a crucial economic driver for Melbourne, Victoria and South-Eastern Australia and contends that the benefits of channel deepening are diffuse and will accrue to the entire Victorian community over time. VECCI also made the following points:

• Urgent action is required - inadequate channel depths are already affecting the Port of Melbourne's competitiveness;
• Trade growth is expected to accelerate into the future, putting further pressure on the Port and surrounding infrastructure;
• Channel deepening is consistent with other aspects of Government policy - both State and Federal Governments have set ambitious export targets over the next decade and beyond;
• The environmental effects of channel deepening will be short-term and limited in impact;
• Numerous major Victorian businesses and investors support channel deepening.

VECCI has also urged the Government to ensure that important allied issues are not forgotten in the channel deepening process. For example, consideration needs to be given to ensuring infrastructure along the supply chain (e.g. road and rail connections and berths) is capable of meeting the challenges of trade growth in the future. At the same time, decisions in respect of funding the cost of channel deepening need to give due regard to notions of fairness, transparency and efficiency. A copy of VECCI's submission is available from Chris James on below.

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VECCI Strategic Communications
Ph:      (03) 8662 5226
email: media@vecci.org.au