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GIPPSLAND LAKES OCEAN ACCESS

LONG TERM MONITORING and MANAGEMENT PLAN

MAINTENANCE DREDGING WITH OCEAN DISPOSAL

2013-2023

97 Main Street BAIRNSDALE VIC 3875

AUSTRALIA Telephone: +61 3 5150 0500 Facsimile: +61 3 5150 0501

[email protected]

Rev B – 9/09/2013

PREAMBLE

The term “Gippsland Lakes Ocean Access” (GLOA) describes Gippsland Ports’ collective

initiatives to maintain a reliable navigable passage for vessels between the Gippsland Lakes and

Bass Strait through the Entrance at Lakes Entrance.

This Long Term Monitoring and Management Plan (LTMMP) is the central supporting document of

Gippsland Ports’ 2013 application for a 10 year Permit under the Australian Government

Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981 (Sea Dumping Act) for the unconfined ocean

disposal of maintenance dredge material at Lakes Entrance.

It has been prepared in accordance with guidelines provided by the Department of Sustainability,

Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPAC).

Version control

Version Author Comments Date

Draft J.Kowarsky/D.Snell Draft issue to DSEWPaC with 10-yr SDP application

20/02/2013

A D.Snell Issued to DSEWPaC with additional information

24/05/2013

B D.Snell Issued to DSEWPaC. Alteration to Sec 4.3.3

09/09/2013

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Table of Contents Section Page

Abbreviations and acronyms _____________________________________________________ 5

1 INTRODUCTION __________________________________________________________ 6

1.1 The Port of Gippsland Lakes _________________________________________________ 6

1.2 Overall Environmental Management Framework __________________________________ 7

1.3 History of Dredging and Disposal______________________________________________ 7

1.4 Environmental Considerations _______________________________________________ 10

1.5 Sediment Quality Considerations _____________________________________________ 11

1.6 Stakeholder Consultation ___________________________________________________ 12

1.6.1 Historical overview ________________________________________________ 12

1.6.2 Stakeholder Engagement Plan ________________________________________ 13

2 INFORMATION ON APPROVALS ____________________________________________ 14

2.1 Australian Government Permissions Granted ___________________________________ 14

2.1.1 Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981 ________________________ 14

2.1.2 Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1991 __________ 14

2.2 Victorian Government Permissions Granted ____________________________________ 15

2.2.1 Coastal Management Act 1995 _______________________________________ 15

2.2.2 Environment Effects Act 1978 ________________________________________ 15

2.3 Future Regulatory Approval Requirements _____________________________________ 15

3 PROPOSED DREDGING AND DISPOSAL ACTIVITIES AT LAKES ENTRANCE _______ 16

3.1 Proposed Maintenance Dredging _____________________________________________ 16

3.2 Proposed Dredged Material Ground for TSHD __________________________________ 17

3.3 Proposed Ocean Operational Area for SCD ____________________________________ 18

3.4 Future Capital Dredging ____________________________________________________ 19

3.5 Sampling and Analysis Plan ________________________________________________ 19

4 THE EXISTING ENVIRONMENT _____________________________________________ 22

4.1 Marine Communities in the Inner Channels _____________________________________ 22

4.2 Marine Communities Outside the Entrance _____________________________________ 24

4.3 Protected Matters Report - EPBC Act _________________________________________ 26

4.3.1 Protecting Small Tern and Hooded Plover Nesting _______________________ 28

4.3.2 Protecting Cetaceans _______________________________________________ 29

4.3.3 Protecting Australian Grayling _______________________________________ 29

4.4 Bathymetry, Coastal Processes and Water Quality _______________________________ 29

4.4.1 Bathymetry ______________________________________________________ 29

4.4.2 Tides and Waves __________________________________________________ 31

4.4.3 Longshore Sediment Movement ______________________________________ 31

4.4.4 Offshore-onshore Sediment Movement ________________________________ 32

4.4.5 Sediment Transport Through the Entrance Channel _______________________ 32

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4.4.6 Buildup of Sand Inside the Entrance ___________________________________ 32

5 POTENTIAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES ___________________________ 34

5.1 Benthic Habitat at the DMGs ________________________________________________ 34

5.2 Turbidity and Sedimentation ________________________________________________ 34

5.3 Exposure to Contaminants __________________________________________________ 35

5.4 Coastal Processes and the Long Term Capacity of the DMGs ______________________ 35

5.5 Introduced Marine Pests ___________________________________________________ 36

5.6 Hydrocarbon and Chemical Spills ____________________________________________ 36

5.7 Waste Management _______________________________________________________ 36

5.8 Noise and Lighting ________________________________________________________ 37

5.9 Vessel Strike ____________________________________________________________ 37

6 MANAGEMENT ACTIONS _________________________________________________ 38

6.1 Alternatives to Sea Disposal ________________________________________________ 38

6.2 Environmental Management Strategies ________________________________________ 39

6.3 Management/Monitoring Actions _____________________________________________ 39

6.4 Performance Indicators ____________________________________________________ 39

6.5 Contingency Planning _____________________________________________________ 40

6.5.1 Inclement Weather ________________________________________________ 40

6.5.2 Flood event ______________________________________________________ 40

6.5.3 Oil spill _________________________________________________________ 41

6.5.4 Compromised Under-keel Clearance of Dredge __________________________ 41

6.6 Continuous Improvement ___________________________________________________ 41

6.7 Auditing, Reporting and Corrective Actions _____________________________________ 43

6.8 Responsibilities __________________________________________________________ 45

6.9 Review of LTMMP ________________________________________________________ 46

6.10 Publication of LTMMP ____________________________________________________ 46

7 REFERENCES __________________________________________________________ 47

Appendix 1: Technical and Advisory Consultative Committee Meetings __________________ 48

Appendix 2: Gippsland Ports Stakeholder Engagement Plan __________________________ 63

Appendix 3: Decision on EPBC Act Referral 2011/5392 ______________________________ 76

Appendix 4: Current Consent under the Victorian Coastal Management Act _______________ 80

Appendix 5: EES Decision Notice _______________________________________________ 82

Appendix 6: EPBC Act Protected Matters Report February 2011 ________________________ 83

Appendix 7: Protected Species Assessment _______________________________________ 98

Appendix 8: External audit of 2011 implementation of EMP __________________________ 102

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Abbreviations and acronyms

Term Expansion

AME Australian Marine Ecology

CD Chart Datum

CSD Cutter Suction Dredge

DSEWPAC Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (Commonwealth)

DMG Dredged Material Ground

DSE Department of Sustainability and Environment (Victoria)

EMP Environmental Management Plan

EPBC Act Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (Commonwealth)

GLOA Gippsland Lakes Ocean Access

LESMP Lakes Entrance Sand Management Program

LTMMP Long Term Monitoring and Management Plan

NAGD National Assessment Guidelines for Dredging (2009)

PDS Project Delivery Standards

SCD Side Casting Dredge

SEMP Safety and Environmental Management Plan

TACC Technical Advisory and Consultative Committee

TSHD Trailing Suction Hopper Dredge

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1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 The Port of Gippsland Lakes

Gippsland Ports Committee of Management Incorporated (Gippsland Ports) is responsible for the management and control of the five designated Gippsland regional ports (Figure 1) and two waterways:

• Port of Mallacoota

• Port of Snowy River

• Port of Gippsland Lakes

• Port of Corner Inlet and Port Albert

• Port of Anderson Inlet

• Shallow Inlet Waterway

• Lake Tyers Waterway

Figure 1: Gippsland Designated Local Ports

The Port of Gippsland Lakes has its main node at the township of Lakes Entrance which is home to Victoria's largest commercial fishing fleet. Lakes Entrance and the Gippsland Lakes in general are also popular recreational fishing, boating, holiday and tourist destinations. In addition to supporting a significant commercial fishing fleet, increasingly the Port of Gippsland Lakes (Lake Entrance) is being used: a) as a safe refuge by cruising vessels (it is the only safe refuge between the Port of Eden

(NSW) and Port Welshpool, a stretch of coastline exceeding 450 km b) by many hundreds of small recreational vessels each week during the summer season.

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It is anticipated that boating traffic, particularly that of recreational vessels, will increase in the Lakes Entrance precinct in association with growth in tourism and the expected growth in residential population of the area. Gippsland Ports has found that boating registrations increase at approximately twice the rate of population increase. The operational constraints of the Port including Port access (navigable channel depth and width) and available land preclude any substantial change in the type of maritime activity through the Port. There is no plan or justification for changing the character of maritime activity other than increasing the volume.

1.2 Overall Environmental Management Framework

Gippsland Ports’ Environmental Policy is given in Information Box 1. The overall environmental management of the Port of Gippsland Lakes is guided by Gippsland Ports’ Safety and Environmental Management Plan (SEMP) which is prepared as part of Gippsland Ports’ obligations under Part 6A of the Victorian Port Management Act 1995. Dredging activities at Lakes Entrance are specifically controlled by an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) which is periodically updated with the approval of regulatory agencies.

1.3 History of Dredging and Disposal

A permanent artificial entrance (the Entrance) to the Gippsland Lakes from Bass Strait was completed at Lakes Entrance in 1889. Since its construction, there has been ingress of ocean sand into the Inner Channels. In addition, an offshore bar (the Bar) has formed outside the Entrance (Figure 2). Accumulation of sand on the Bar and in the inner channels has created navigation hazards requiring regular maintenance dredging to ensure navigable access to and from the ocean to the Gippsland Lakes.

Figure 2: Aerial photograph (June 2009) of the Entrance (1 km grid)

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Information Box 1

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For over thirty years up to 2008, Gippsland Ports and its predecessors used the side-casting dredge April Hamer on an almost-daily to maintain a channel through the Bar. Over the years the Bar continued to grow and it now comprises a shallow area (cut by a dredged navigation channel) containing several million cubic metres of sand. Since 2008, Gippsland Ports has used a trailing suction hopper dredge (TSHD) on five occasions for the maintenance of the channel through the Bar and also, to a minor extent, for clearing some sand from the inner channels. The TSHD has placed dredged material at offshore Dredged Material Grounds (DMGs) east and west of the Entrance (Figure 3). Each TSHD program has been completed over a period of weeks. To maintain the navigability of the inner channels, Gippsland Ports has mainly used a Cutter Suction Dredge (CSD). Initially dredged slurry from the CSD was pumped onto adjacent land, but since 2001 the CSD has connected to the Sand Transfer Station and the material has been pumped to a beach outfall east of the Entrance (Figure 2). Gippsland Ports plans to construct an outfall west of the Entrance in mid-2013.

Figure 3: Dredged Material Grounds receiving material from TSHD programs

A summary of dredges used at Lakes Entrance is provided in Table 1.

DREDGE NAME PERIOD OF USE TYPE OF DREDGE

Wombat 1879 to 1928 Bucket Dredge

Pioneer 1906 to unknown Suction Dredge

Priestman Pre 1908 to 1963 Grab Dredge

W.H. Edgar 1922 to 1936 Side Suction Dredge

Paynesville 1936 to 1963 Suction Dredge

Sandpiper 1963 to 2005 Cutter Suction Dredge

Mathew Flinders Circa 1970 Trailing Suction Hopper Dredge

April Hamer 1979 to 2011 Side-casting Dredge

Melbourne 2006 to 2007 Cutter Suction Dredge

Kalimna 2007 to present Cutter Suction Dredge

Pelican 2008 to present Trailing Suction Hopper Dredge

Table 1: Summary of dredges used at Lakes Entrance

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A summary of dredging and sand shifting quantities removed at Lakes Entrance since 1996 is given in Table 2.

FINANCIAL

YEAR

SIDE-CASTING DREDGE

CUTTER SUCTION DREDGE SAND

SHIFTER

TRAILING SUCTION HOPPER

DREDGE

APRIL HAMER SANDPIPER MELBOURNE KALIMNA --

PELICAN

1996/1997 304,625 95,484 -- -- -- --

1997/1998 266,656 110,310 -- -- -- --

1998/1999 458,888 93,069 -- -- -- --

1999/2000 1,002,214 143,294 -- -- -- --

2000/2001 828,678 97,980 -- -- -- --

2001/2002 774,911 98,664 -- -- -- --

2002/2003 801,700 111,636 -- -- -- --

2003/2004 not available not available -- -- -- --

2004/2005 306,078 173,811 -- -- -- --

2005/2006 290,634 not available -- -- -- --

2006/2007 440,532 -- 241,063 -- -- --

2007/2008 229,040 -- -- 210,366 -- --

2008/2009 25,770 -- -- 120,359 141,789 557,710

2009/2010 1,783 -- -- 130,963 -- 240,541

2010/2011 -- -- -- 89,960 -- 164,739

2011/2012 -- -- -- 89,920 -- 379,175

Table 2: Quantities of material removed at Lakes Entrance since 1996 (units: cubic metres)

1.4 Environmental Considerations

Section 4 deals with the existing natural environmental values of the dredging areas of Lakes Entrance and around the DMGs shown in Figure 3. In summary, marine ecological surveys have indicated that the marine communities and habitats of the inner channels, the Bar and the DMGs do not reveal any unique or vulnerable entities.

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While in 2007 there were seagrass beds on some areas of the inner channels, these had subsequently disappeared by 2009 (due to factors such as floods and/or reduced light attenuation due to algal blooms, not to any dredging activities). Searches of relevant biodiversity databases at State and Federal levels have indicated that dredging and disposal areas used may provide transit areas for migratory birds, mammals and fish including some species listed as vulnerable or endangered. These are discussed further in Section 4.

1.5 Sediment Quality Considerations

In 2007 Gippsland Ports undertook an extensive sediment sampling and analysis program based upon a Sampling and Analysis Plan (SAP) approved by DSEWPAC. The study found that the material proposed for dredging and the material at the proposed DMGs comprised almost 100% medium to medium coarse sand. In terms of contaminant status, it was classified as “acceptable for unconfined ocean disposal” under the National Ocean Disposal Guidelines (2002) (the predecessor to the National Assessment Guidelines for Dredging (2009) (NAGD)). In 2009 Gippsland Ports was granted an exemption from further sediment testing for their 2011 application for a Permit under the Sea Dumping Act. In September 2012, Geochemical Assessments Pty Ltd reviewed existing sediment quality data in the port dredging areas at Lakes Entrance to support an application for exemption from further sediment sampling and assessment as per requirements under the National Assessment Guidelines for Dredging (NAGD) (Commonwealth of Australia, 2009). Geochemical Assessments’ 2012 review was substantially and necessarily based on previous reports and a request for exemption from further testing by Gippsland Ports (2009), which also reviewed and summarised sediment assessments that had been previously undertaken in the proposed dredge areas. The Geochemical Assessments (2012) review supports an application for exemption from further testing of sediments. Based on their review of existing data on sediments in the proposed dredge areas at Lakes Entrance, Geochemical Assessments (2012) concluded that:

• concentrations of sediment-bound contaminants posed negligible risks to environmental receptors in or near the dredge areas during dredging, or at the disposal site.

• it was highly unlikely that contaminant concentrations have measurably changed since the collection of previous sediment geochemical data in 2007 and 2008 as sediment textures and potential contaminant sources have not changed.

• collection of additional geochemical data and an NAGD Phase II assessment of sediments within the proposed dredge areas are therefore likely to result in similar outcomes to the most recent NAGD-compliant assessment (i.e. URS, 2007 and John Kowarsky and Associates, 2008).

Gippsland Ports submits that an application for a long-term 10-year Sea Dumping Permit to undertake the defined dredging should be exempt from providing further sediment quality data on the following grounds:

• sediment in the proposed dredge area is predominantly sand sized and contains little or no fine fraction content. This substantially reduces the potential for particulate-bound contaminants to associate with sediments

• sediment in the sections of the Lakes Entrance identified for maintenance dredging is predominantly derived from oceanic rather than fluvial sources

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• the proposed dredging areas are relatively high energy environments and any fine grained particulate material is continually remobilised by waves and tide and flood currents to areas beyond those proposed dredge areas

• there is minimal industrial activity within the catchment and future contaminant fluxes from all point and non-point sources are expected to be low

• previous geochemical assessments have overwhelmingly confirmed the sandy texture and overall low concentrations of contaminants in sediment

• while sediments at a few locations within and near the proposed dredge sub-areas have contained contaminants (e.g. Hg, TBT) at concentrations that exceed one-tenth of the NAGD Screening Level, the great majority of sediment samples have contained concentrations of analytes that are substantially below the NAGD Screening Levels. Therefore the 95% UCL of mean contaminant concentrations in the proposed dredge area are unlikely to exceed their respective NAGD Screening Levels and trigger Phase III assessments (i.e. elutriate and bioavailability testing)

• while the period of data currency for the most recent previous geochemical data from within the proposed dredge area (i.e. URS, 2007) is now greater than five years, there have been no substantial changes to contaminant contributions from the catchment, and to the texture of sediments within the proposed dredge area.

• the general land use within the Lakes Entrance catchment is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future, hence the potential contaminant inputs to surficial sediments are also unlikely to change.

• In the event of a significant and unforeseen pollution event (e.g. sinking of a vessel, road tanker spill), incident control measures would be undertaken to mitigate potential impacts from contamination. Any area potentially impacted by contamination incidents would be thoroughly assessed prior to dredging.

For this current application for a 10-year Permit, DSEWPAC has again granted an exemption from further testing and Gippsland Ports has prepared a strategy to maintain the currency of the sediment contamination information during the 10-year period (see Section 3.5).

1.6 Stakeholder Consultation

1.6.1 Historical overview

In 2005 Gippsland Ports established the Lakes Entrance Technical Advisory and Consultative Committee (TACC) as recommended by the NAGD for proponents seeking long-term dredging permits. The objective of the TACC is to assist Gippsland Ports and the determining authority in protecting the local environment and in reconciling various stakeholder interests. The Lakes Entrance TACC was first convened in March 2005 as part of the process to obtain a five-year Sea Dumping Permit for side-cast dredging of the Bar. The TACC informally met again in February 2006 at a Stakeholder Workshop to be briefed about the Lakes Entrance Sand Management Program (LESMP). The LESMP was a five-year initiative designed to investigate and develop options for the future management of sand ingression onto the Bar channel and inner channels at Lakes Entrance.

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Further TACC meetings have been held as follows: Meeting 2: December 2006 Meeting 3: May 2008 Meeting 4: April 2009 Meeting 5: October 2009 Meeting 6: October 2010 Meeting 7: November 2011 Meeting 8: October 2012 Attendees at the above meetings and meeting notes for the most recent meeting are given in Appendix 1. In addition to the TACC meetings, Gippsland Ports has undertaken a number of specific public information and consultative processes as the need has arisen including numerous presentations and public meetings, electronic newsletters, and the maintenance of the dedicated website for the duration of the LESMP from 2005 – 2011. Dredging program updates and bathymetric surveys are provided on Gippsland Ports’ website : www.gippslandports.vic.gov.au.

1.6.2 Stakeholder Engagement Plan

Gippsland Ports has prepared a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (Appendix 2) as a requirement of

Condition 4 of its current Consent under the Victorian Coastal Management Act (Appendix 4). Amongst other initiatives, this Stakeholder Engagement Plan identifies TACC meetings as an opportunity for key stakeholders and interested parties to review the Gippsland Lakes Ocean access program information, to raise queries and to seek feedback from key Gippsland Ports staff. During the 10-year Permit term, TACC meetings will be held annually (at minimum). Listings of project stakeholders for the Gippsland Lakes Ocean Access program and TACC invitees are provided in Appendices A and B of the Stakeholder Engagement Plan respectively.

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2 INFORMATION ON APPROVALS

2.1 Australian Government Permissions Granted

2.1.1 Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981

Since 2005 Gippsland Ports has held permits from DSEWPAC for the ocean disposal of dredged material (Table 3).

Permit Date

issued Period Dredge Quantity Status

SD2005/0024 30/9/2005 5 years Side-casting Up to 350,000 cubic metres

annually

Granted and expired

SD2007/0562 18/6/2007 9 months Trailing suction hopper

Up to 450,000 cubic metres

Granted but not used as emergency conditions abated

naturally

SD2007/0663 13/2/2008 7.5 months Trailing suction hopper


Granted and expired.

SD2009/1162 29/5/2009 14 months Trailing suction hopper


annually

Granted and expired

SD2011/2002 16/9/2011 2 years Trailing suction hopper


annually Current

Table 3: Permits from DSEWPAC for the ocean disposal of dredged material held by Gippsland Ports

2.1.2 Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1991

Two referrals (2007/3852 and 2011/5932) under the above Act for the ocean disposal of dredged material have been made by Gippsland Ports. In each case the proposal was deemed not a controlled action provided it was undertaken in a particular manner to avoid significant impacts on listed threatened species and communities, listed migratory species and Commonwealth marine areas. In the case of referral 2007/3852, an end date of 30 September 2008 was specified. The decision on referral 2011/5932 is ongoing (Appendix 3).

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2.2 Victorian Government Permissions Granted

2.2.1 Coastal Management Act 1995

For each of the above programs and periods for which a Permit under the Sea Dumping, Gippsland Ports has also held Consent under the Victorian Coastal Management Act 1995. The most recent Consent, 16L9-5681 was issued on 29/9/2011 with an expiry date of 30/6/2020 (Appendix 4).

2.2.2 Environment Effects Act 1978

A referral under this Act resulted in a determination by the Victorian Department of Planning and Community Development in 2008 (2007R00017) that the proposed works (including ocean disposal of dredged material) did not require an Environment Effects Statement provided specific conditions were met (Appendix 5). These conditions pertained to aspects of the proposal other than TSHD dredging and disposal of material.

2.3 Future Regulatory Approval Requirements

For future dredging around Lakes Entrance requiring the ocean disposal of material, Gippsland Ports will require a Permit under the Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981. Gippsland Ports will include the protective measures prescribed by the most recent referral decision under the EPBC Act (2011/5932) (Appendix 3) in its 10-year maintenance dredging proposal. As stated above, Gippsland Ports’ Consent under the Coastal Management Act is current until June 2020 (Appendix 4). On the basis of the scope of their dredging operations and proposals subsequent to 2008, including the present application for a 10-year Permit under the Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act, Gippsland Ports has determined that a further referral under the Environment Effects Act was and is not necessary.

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3 PROPOSED DREDGING AND DISPOSAL ACTIVITIES AT LAKES ENTRANCE

3.1 Proposed Maintenance Dredging

Gippsland Ports proposed 10- year long-term maintenance dredging program at Lakes Entrance will be similar to that defined in Permit SD2011/2002 under the Sea Dumping Act. The only alteration will be the reinstatement of ‘sand traps’ previously dredged in 2009. Sand traps would be located on both the eastern and western boundaries of Wedge dredge design footprint. Sand traps would facilitate collapsing of vertical sand ‘wall’ to improve safety of TSHD operation and will reduce the risk of damage to dredge and trailer arm. Maintenance dredging will be undertaken in the following priority (Figure 4):

• Zone 1: The Bar comprising the Bar Channel and the Bar Wedge

• Zone 2: Inner Channels comprising the Entrance Channel and the Swing Basin

• Zone 3: Inner Channels comprising all other defined channels For any dredging under a 10-year Permit under the Sea Dumping Act, the Inner Channels are limited to the Entrance Channel, the Swing Basin, Cunninghame Arm and the Narrows. North Arm and Hopetoun Channel are excluded from TSHD operation.

Figure 4: Proposed areas for maintenance dredging at Lakes Entrance

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Gippsland Ports expects that in the normal course of events, maintenance dredging would be undertaken using a TSHD (as has been the case in the most recent programs). However should a TSHD not be available and maintenance works be required, Gippsland Ports would use a Side Casting Dredge (SCD). An annual total of up to 750,000 cubic metres (in situ) will be removed by a TSHD (and/or SCD). The actual amount of material dredged during each program will depend upon factors such as:

• the amount of sand ingression that has occurred since the last program

• the availability of a suitable dredge

• the prevailing weather conditions during the contracted dredge period

• contingencies such as equipment breakdown and servicing needs. Gippsland Ports will regularly analyse the hydrographic data that will be collected as part of the monitoring program associated with this 10-year Permit to improve its operations by minimising the need for maintenance dredging and by undertaking maintenance dredging in the most efficient and environmentally benign way

3.2 Proposed Dredged Material Ground for TSHD

Gippsland Ports proposes to use the same DMGs as those defined in Permit SD2011/2002 under the Sea Dumping Act and as shown in Figure 3. Table 4 shows the coordinates of the corners of the Eastern and Western DMGs.

CORNER Western Dredged Material Ground Eastern Dredged Material Ground

Longitude Latitude Longitude Latitude

North-west 147056’10.56947” -37

054’7.59027” 147

059’26.38328” -37

053’15.79364”

South-west 147056’16.65990” -37

054’19.64409” 147

059’32.39985” -37

053’27.87771”

South-east 147057’26.62522” -37

053’43.52005” 148

00’42.53307” -37

052’52.01204”

North-east 147057’32.71851” -37

053’55.57276” 148

00’48.55207” -37

053’4.06256”

Table 4: Corner longitude and latitude coordinates for proposed DMGs

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3.3 Proposed Ocean Operational Area for SCD

Figure 5 shows the area of the Bar that would be dredged by an SCD. The coordinates of this polygon are given in Table 5.

Table 5: Coordinates of SCD operational area

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Figure 5: SCD operational area

3.4 Future Capital Dredging

The only capital dredging works planned is for dredging of a trench to install a replacement sand transfer pipeline across The Narrows. This is one of the final projects remaining from the Lakes Entrance Sand Management Program. Dredging will be performed in 2013 by Gippsland Ports’ cutter suction dredge (‘Kalimna’) and material disposed of through current sand transfer system. In the area related to application, there is no capital dredging works currently planned for the Port of Gippsland Lakes. In any case, any proposed capital dredging would be preceded by consultation with stakeholders and regulatory agencies and the procurement of the appropriate Permits and Consents.

3.5 Sampling and Analysis Plan

Gippsland Ports has sought and obtained from DSEWPAC an exemption from further sediment testing for maintenance dredging of the Bar, the Entrance Channel, the Swing Basin, Cunninghame Arm and the Narrows at Lakes Entrance (Letter dated 5 November 2012 (Information Box 2)).

As stated in Section 1.5, the proposed dredge material is comprised of almost 100% medium to medium coarse sand. Furthermore,

• sediment in the proposed dredge area is predominantly sand sized and contains little or no fine fraction content. This substantially reduces the potential for particulate-bound contaminants to associate with sediments

• sediment in the sections of the Lakes Entrance identified for maintenance dredging is predominantly derived from oceanic rather than fluvial sources

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• the proposed dredging areas are relatively high energy environments and any fine grained particulate material is continually remobilised by waves and tide and flood currents to areas beyond those proposed dredge areas

Consequently contamination in dredge area is remote. Gippsland Ports’ sediment testing contingency is to undertake further testing immediately following any significant change or incident in the catchment or port areas that could give rise to sediment contamination. Such events will be detected by Gippsland Ports’ monitoring of local and State media, by liaison with EPA Victoria (a member of the TACC), and by its own reporting process of marine incidents.

Any further sediment testing thus required will be undertaken using as a generic template Gippsland Ports’ 2007 Sediment Sampling and Analysis Plan (SAP) that was approved by DSEWPAC. Any amendments to the SAP will be forwarded to DSEWPAC for approval prior to sampling.

Gippsland Ports will advise DSEWPAC of the results of the above testing within one month of their availability.

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Information Box 2

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4 THE EXISTING ENVIRONMENT

Gippsland Ports commissioned a number of studies to define the environmental values in areas where specific works were being proposed:

o Terrestrial flora and fauna Assessment (Ecology Australia 2007)

o Sediment quality (URS 2007 and Gippsland Ports 2007)

o Lakes Entrance Sediment Summary Report (Geochemical Assessments 2012)

o Marine communities and seagrass 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2012 studies (AME 2007, AME 2008, AME 2009, AME 2012).

All reports have been provided to regulatory agencies to assist them in considering Gippsland Ports' applications for permits and approvals.

4.1 Marine Communities in the Inner Channels

Australian Marine Ecology (AME) was engaged to undertake marine community surveys and infaunal sampling of the Inner Channels and Bar areas where dredging was proposed, and at the proposed 2008 ocean Dredged Material Grounds (DMGs) east and west of the Entrance (AME 2007). The Inner Channels were found to comprise mainly bare sediment habitat with small areas of seagrass and artificial (constructed) rocky intertidal habitats. The Bar and near shore coastal areas comprised bare sediment habitats, both intertidal and subtidal. No subtidal reef was found in any of the areas. Figure 6 shows the AME (2007) marine habitat map of the Inner Channels. With respect to the Inner Channels area, AME (2007) stated:

"The survey of marine communities and habitats in the Inner Channels Study Area did not reveal any unique, or particularly vulnerable or diverse entities. As mentioned above, the study area is important area in terms of maintaining environmental conditions further inside the estuary, as well as a migratory route between the estuary and coastal waters. On this basis, the area is of at least regional significance, regardless of the Ramsar listing."

AME undertook supplementary surveys of the seabed of the Inner Channels area in January 2008, February 2009 and October 2012 to document any changes which may have taken place, particularly with respect to seagrass beds, since the 2007 survey (AME 2008, AME 2012). Figure 7 shows observed changes in seagrass distribution within the Inner Channels study area between the 2007 and 2008 surveys. The area covered by seagrass decreased by about 75% between the April 2007 and the February 2008 surveys. In many cases the seagrass beds were replaced by organic sediment beds. Generally there was an increase in sand channel areas and a corresponding decrease in sandy banks.

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Seasonal variations were considered unlikely to have caused the above observed seagrass changes. The two factors considered by AME most likely to have been influential on the decrease in seagrass areas were scouring by floods and reduction of light by algal blooms. Another factor not explicitly considered then which may have had some influence was the decrease in salinity (of unknown extent and duration) occurring during flood periods.

Figure 6: Marine habitats of Inner Channels area in 2007

(Figure 5.3 of AME (2007)

Figure 7: Changes to seagrass distribution April 2007 to February 2008

(from information in Figures 3.10, 3.19, 3.20, 3.21, and 3.22 of AME (2008))

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In the February 2009 survey, AME re-mapped the current boundaries of seagrass beds described during the two earlier surveys. No new areas of seagrasses were found. A further decrease in the extent of previously existing areas seagrasses was observed. Seagrass had disappeared entirely from the study area in the Narrows, North Arm and Cunninghame Arm, and there was a slight decrease in seagrass coverage observed in Hopetoun Channel. AME (2009) listed the following factors as possible contributors to the decline in seagrasses:

o Scouring o Light attenuation due to algal blooms o Salinity changes o Inter-annual climate variability o Localised population dynamics.

Figure 8 shows the habitat map resulting from the AME 2012 survey. They concluded that the area defined for maintenance dredging did not include any seagrass beds.

Figure 8: AME (2012) habitat map for Inner Channels

4.2 Marine Communities Outside the Entrance

Figure 9 shows the study areas for the 2007 marine community study (reported in AME 2007) together with the area surveyed in 2009. During the 2007 marine community study, seabed observations were made at a number of sites, also shown in Figure 9.

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Figure 9: Seabed survey areas around the Dredged Material Grounds

Table 6 presents relevant seabed observations made at each of the above sites. Typically the seabed was found to be rippled sand with no or sparse burrows present. With respect to ocean areas outside of the Entrance AME (2007) stated:

"The coastal study areas outside the entrance have no aspects that would qualify them as of regional, state or national significance. The communities and habitats of the three areas were generally represented over larger areas with no ecological or environmental features apparent to indicate any increased importance to the study area over other areas of coast in the Lakes Entrance region."

The 2009 seabed survey indicated minor changes since the 2007 survey, with the substratum becoming more similar to the shallower inshore areas. While AME (2009) inferred that these observed changes may have been due to the disposal of dredged material in the intervening period, Gippsland Ports’ hydrographic surveys indicated that over the same time interval there was a migration of an inshore bar that may have contributed to the observations made. In any case, the changes are not considered of major consequence as the habitat was bare sediment and, according to AME (2009):

“...is not likely to support long-lived and unique assemblages of flora and fauna. The habitat, as determined by its acoustic properties, and the sediment and infauna sampling in 2007, is well represented along this coast line.”

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Table 6: Seabed observations at sixteen sites around the DMGs in 2007 (extracted from AME (2007) Tables 5.3 and 5.4)

4.3 Protected Matters Report - EPBC Act

A Protected Matters Report was generated on 4th February 2011 from the Environment Protection

and Biodiversity Conservation Act website for the search area shown in Figure 10.

Figure 10: EPBC Act Protected Matters Report Search Area

2007 STUDY AREA

SITE NUMBER ON FIGURE 8

SEABED OBSERVATIONS

Ripples Burrows

Around Western DMG

1 Large ripples 10-20 cm high,

30 cm apart None

2 Ripples 20 cm apart None

3 Ripples 20 cm apart Small holes, medium density

4 Small ripples to 5 cm height None

5 Ripples Sparse

6 Ripples Some

7 Ripples Sparse and small

8 No ripples None

Around Eastern DMG

9 Small ripples, 3-4 cm high, 5-

10 cm apart Small holes, low density

10 Some ripples None

11 No ripples None

12 Ripples 40 cm width, 5 cm

high None

13 No ripples, sand in water column, much movement

None

14 Ripples 30 cm apart None

15 Ripples 30 cm apart Burrows with feeding mounds

16 Ripples 30 cm apart Burrows with feeding mounds

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The full report is given in Appendix 7. The report summary is in Information Box 3:

Information Box 3

The Wetland of International Significance comprises the Gippsland Lakes Ramsar Site. The Inner Channels are in this Site (Figure 11). As some of its works take place within this Ramsar Site, Gippsland Ports deemed it appropriate to

make a referral under the EPBC Act (Section 2.1.2 and Appendix 3).

Figure 11: Gippsland Lake Ramsar Site area around Lakes Entrance

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The listed two threatened ecological communities are terrestrial and neither community occurs in the area of interest. An examination of the potential impacts of Gippsland Ports operations on the listed species is given in Appendix 7. While some marine bird and cetacean species listed in the protected matters report may pass through the areas of the dredging and/or disposal they are not considered reliant upon them. Measures that will be implemented to protect a bird nesting area and cetaceans are given in Section 4.3.1 and 4.3.2 respectively Of the listed fish species, the Australian Grayling Prototroctes maraena is known to migrate between estuarine and river systems and the sea and may be sensitive to turbidity impacts. Protective measures that were implemented for this species in 2011 and 2012 were monitored during each of these dredging programs. The monitoring results indicated that the turbidity due to dredging was well below levels considered potentially harmful to Australian Grayling. Accordingly, Gippsland Ports has revised its risk register and the EMP for this issue and now considers its residual risk low (see Section 4.3.3).

4.3.1 Protecting Small Tern and Hooded Plover Nesting

The southern end of Rigby Island in the inner channels has provided a nesting area for three threatened bird species:

• Fairy Tern Sterna nereis (Endangered)

• Little Tern Sterna albifrons (Vulnerable)

• Hooded Plover Thinornis rubricollis (Vulnerable) All three species are listed under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. Gippsland Ports has defined a 100 m buffer zone around the south-eastern end of Rigby Island (Figure 12).

Figure 12: Rigby Island Buffer Zone

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As prescribed in Table 8 of the EMP, Gippsland Ports will not undertake dredging within the Rigby Island Buffer Zone during the period October to March inclusive, when birds may be nesting.

4.3.2 Protecting Cetaceans

As prescribed in Table 6 of the EMP, the areas for dredging and disposal of material will be inspected prior to works commencing. If there are any cetaceans seen within 300 m of the monitoring zone (that is, the area within 300 m of any point on the dredging/disposal run about to be commenced), works must not commence until 20 minutes after the last cetacean is observed to leave the monitoring zone, or the vessel must move to another area at least 300 m away from the cetacean observed.

4.3.3 Protecting Australian Grayling

Condition no.2 of EPBC referral decision (2011/5932) and Condition no.19 of Sea Dumping Permit SD2013/2442 both state that:

“During the period of September to January, the plume caused by dredging activities must not exceed 25 NTU, at a distance of 50 metres from the vessel, when measured across the channel”

For the November 2011 – January 2012 and the October – December 2012 TSHD dredging programs, Gippsland Ports undertook turbidity controls as prescribed in Table 7 of the EMP version 4.1) which states:

“During the period September to January (grayling migration period) the plume caused by dredging activities, i.e. the ‘Dredge effect’, must not exceed 25 NTU, at a distance of 50 m from the vessel, across the channel in accordance with the TSHD Turbidity Monitoring Protocol.”

Monitoring for the two most recent two dredging programs (which used only a TSHD, earlier programs had also used an SCD) found that turbidity levels due to dredging were always well below the above prescribed trigger point of 25 NTU (Figure 13). On the basis of these turbidity monitoring results Gippsland Ports downgraded the associated risk. However, Condition no.19 (SD2013/2442) additionally states:

“While dredging, monitoring of the dredge plume is to be carried out and records of results maintained. Access to these records is to be provided to the department as requested.

Gippsland Ports will continue to undertake turbidity monitoring in accordance with this condition and its previously implemented (2011 & 2012) “Turbidity Monitoring Protocol”.

4.4 Bathymetry, Coastal Processes and Water Quality

The following summary discussion of coastal processes is based upon data in CES (2006), Grayson et al. (2004), Lawson and Treloar (2004), CES (2003), Gippsland Ports (1994) and more recent information provided by Gippsland Ports, Dr Peter Riedel and GHD (2012).

4.4.1 Bathymetry

Figure 14 shows the area around Lakes Entrance given on Chart AUS 182.

The coastal nearshore area gradually slopes seawards; in the vicinity of the proposed DMGs the water depth is four to five metres. Shallower water can be found over the Bar, and on some occasions parts of the Bar seabed can be exposed at low tides.

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Figure 13: Bar chart showing frequency of observations (y-axis) against measured dredge

effect on turbidity (x-axis, units NTUs)

Figure 14: Bathymetry around Lakes Entrance

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4.4.2 Tides and Waves

The tidal range in Cunninghame Arm near Bullock Island (that is, inside of the breakwaters) is about 60% of the tidal range outside the Entrance in Bass Strait. The highest astronomical tide in Cunninghame Arm (inside the Lakes) is 1.0 m, while the same measure at the nearest open water tide gauge at Point Hicks is 1.5 m. Other factors that cause variations in water level within the Gippsland Lakes include rainfall and floods within the lakes, changes in atmospheric pressure (low pressure systems lead to an increase in water level within the Lakes, high pressure systems lead to a fall in water level) and on-shore winds at Lakes Entrance (causing a storm surge). Tidal streams through the Entrance are caused by water levels differences between the lakes and the open sea. While tidal streams as strong as 2.5 m/s (4.9 knots) have been recorded, under normal conditions the tidal stream within the channel peaks at about 1.5 m/s (2.9 knots). Measurement of waves off Lakes Entrance (in water of depth 23 m) over a one-year period (1998/99) showed that the highest significant wave height Hs was 3.27 m while the average Hs was 1.0 m with a corresponding mean significant wave period, Ts of 7.3 s. An analysis of the same dataset indicated that the dominant wave direction was south-east (waves from the south-east occurring 60% of the time) with also a significant population of waves approaching from the south-west (approximately 40% of the time).

4.4.3 Longshore Sediment Movement

Longshore sediment transport refers to the movement of sand along a beach by waves. Prior to 1889 (that is before the Entrance was constructed), the shoreline and nearshore depth contours were nearly straight and the angle at which waves broke on the shore was constant for any given offshore wave direction and wave period. As a consequence, sand moved along the shoreline in a steady and uniform manner, with the direction of sand movement being determined by the direction of waves approaching the shore. Under present day conditions, with the presence of the Bar, the rate of sand movement along the shoreline under given conditions is no longer uniform or steady. There is now a greater tendency for sand to move towards the Entrance rather than to move steadily along the shore past the Entrance. This is because the Bar acts to focus waves towards the Entrance. While there have been some conflicting results obtained for estimates of the direction of net sand movement, recent thinking is that the net movement of sediment is from east to west. Regardless of the net direction of sediment movement, the net volume of sediment moved is quite small compared to the gross longshore sediment transport. Estimates of the annual net movement are of the order of 100,000 cubic metres, while the annual gross movement is now thought to be 300,000 to 400,000 cubic metres.

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4.4.4 Offshore-onshore Sediment Movement

Offshore-onshore sediment movements are those movements of sediment that are perpendicular to the coast. Movement of sediment onshore tends to occur during periods of mild wave activity while movement offshore tends to occur during storms. During storm periods it is not unusual for sand cliffs one to two metres high to be formed along the coast adjacent to the Entrance. Offshore sediment movement tends to produce sand bars aligned approximately parallel to the shoreline. These offshore bars store large volumes of sediment that is subject to movement both alongshore and also back onshore. Severe storms are likely to introduce additional sediment at the seaward end of the bar and channel system at Lakes Entrance.

4.4.5 Sediment Transport Through the Entrance Channel

Sediment is moved between inside and outside the Entrance on a daily basis. Waves, which break at most times on the Bar (even during quite mild weather), cause seabed sediments to become suspended in the water. On a rising tide, the tidal stream carries the suspended sediments into the lake system. The tidal stream in the channel immediately inside the breakwaters is sufficient to prevent the suspended material from settling out, except around the seaward end of the western breakwater where shoaling can be quite pronounced. However once the flood tide diverges at Hopetoun Channel and Cunninghame Arm, the tidal stream diminishes and the sediment tends to be deposited. On the ebb tide, sediments are picked up from the channel between Bullock and Rigby Islands and transported out through the Entrance. Unlike the flood tide process, there is no significant wave action to suspend the sediments and the transport mechanism relies of tidal stream velocities alone. The Gippsland Lakes Flood Level Modelling Project (Grayson et al. 2004) illustrated that there has been a significant downwards shift in river flows, due largely to climatic variation in the past few decades which is likely contributing to the additional deposition of the inner channels (Grayson, Pers. Comm. February 2007). As the outgoing tide forms a jet, these suspended sediments are not deposited out until the jet disperses some distance from the Entrance, usually on the Bar.

4.4.6 Buildup of Sand Inside the Entrance

Gippsland Ports commissioned a comparison of shoaling in an area of the Inner Channels using hydrographic data from 1975 and 2005 (Figure 15). It was estimated that approximately 522,000 cubic metres of sand had accumulated in the survey area in the 30-year period. This ingression is a continuing process and is the reason for regular maintenance dredging to maintain the navigability of the inner channels. An indication of the extent of the ingress of sand into Lakes Entrance since the Entrance was opened in 1889 can be seen by superimposing data from an 1892 chart onto a 2005 aerial photograph (Figure 16).

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Figure 15: Surveys of the Inner Channels in 1975 and 2005

Figure 16: Approximate accrual of clean oceanic sand including reclaimed land areas inside Lakes Entrance, and along the coast, since the Entrance was opened in 1889 and 2005.

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5 POTENTIAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES

5.1 Benthic Habitat at the DMGs

AME (2007) reported that the benthic habitat at and around the DMGs comprised infaunal assemblages “not high in abundance or taxonomic richness and the community structures encountered are not of any particular significance.” The material being placed there is of similar quality (clean ocean sand) to that already there. There will nevertheless be some direct impact from smothering of existing organisms, although recovery would be expected over time. Table 9 Annexure 3 of the EMP outlines the environmental controls that will be implemented with regard to the placement of dredged material at the DMGs and the dispersion of dredged material from the DMGs into the dynamic coastal system subsequently.

5.2 Turbidity and Sedimentation

Aerial observation of the disposal plume generated by the TSHD at the DMG has indicated that it is short-lived and restricted in area (Figure 17). This is consistent with expectations given that the material is almost entirely clean sand of oceanic origin.

Figure 17: Plume about three minutes after disposal of dredged material by TSHD Pelican

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The turbidity monitoring program carried out during dredging under Permit SD2011/2002 has indicated that the turbidity generated by the TSHD was well below the trigger point of 25 NTU, the highest value being 14 NTU (Section 4.3.3 and Figure 13). On this basis it is concluded that the proposed operation is unlikely to have an adverse impact upon the migratory behaviour of Australian Grayling.

5.3 Exposure to Contaminants

No adverse effects are expected as the material to be dredged is almost entirely clean oceanic sand with contamination concentrations below NAGD screening levels (Geochemical Assessments (2012)). Gippsland Ports’ Safe Operating Procedures (SOPs), developed in compliance with relevant legislation, minimise the possibility of pollution through port-related activities. In all of Gippsland ports dredging history there has been no significant environmental pollution incident. Gippsland ports’ Safety and Environmental Management Plan (SEMP) provides detailed risk assessments and management strategies to mitigate Gippsland ports’ operating risks. The SEMP is independently audited and reported to the Victorian Government.

5.4 Coastal Processes and the Long Term Capacity of the DMGs

Visual monitoring by the Lakes Entrance Surf Lifesaving Club during the 2008 and 2009 TSHD dredging programs of the beach immediately inshore of the Eastern DMG concluded that there was no evidence of adverse impacts of disposal upon the beach. Gippsland Ports has undertaken regular bathymetric surveys of the DMGs since their first use in early 2008. Data up to and including the TSHD 2011 program has indicated that both the Eastern and the Western the DMGs are dispersive, that is, over time, the placed material becomes incorporated into the dynamic coastal system and moves away from the DMG. Table 7 (extracted from GHD (2012) Table 8) shows the amount of dispersal of placed material from each of the DMGs at the end of each monitoring period following a dredging program.

Table 7: Dispersal of material from the DMGs

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Gippsland Ports is confident that the DMGs have the capacity to accept maintenance dredged material for this 10-year permit. This view is based upon a number of considerations in addition to the above empirical data, namely:

• Calculations based upon wave data from Gippsland Ports’ wave-rider buoy indicate that the DMGs are effectively within the “shoal zone” (Hallermeier 1981) within which sand movement by wave action is expected

• Observation at the DMGs and elsewhere along the local coast to depths of around -20 m CD (that is, much deeper than the DMGs) show the presence of sand ripples which are indications of sediment movement by waves and swell

• The NAGD (page 21) state:

“In high energy environments, such as those typically found in south-eastern Australia, even sand-sized material will be moved by current and wave action if deposited in water shallower than 60 metres.”

The two DMGs have a combined area of 1,600,000 m

2 in which to receive dredged material.

Table 9 of Annexure 3 of the EMP provides management measures for the placement and monitoring of material at the DMGs.

5.5 Introduced Marine Pests

Any dredge coming from interstate or overseas carries a risk of translocation of marine pests in ballast water and/or attached to the hull. Gippsland Ports’ response to mitigate this risk is detailed in Table 6 of Annexure 3 of the EMP.

5.6 Hydrocarbon and Chemical Spills

Marine operations carry a risk of hydrocarbon, particularly fuel products, spills into waterways and into the ocean. Bunkering of the dredge vessel will take place in accordance with conditions of Gippsland Ports’ fuelling permit (Table 6 Annexure 3 of the EMP). Storage and handling of fuels, oils, chemicals and hazardous goods will be in accordance with relevant legislation (Table 5 Annexure 3 of the EMP).

5.7 Waste Management

All waste on and from vessels will be managed in accordance with strict guidelines and relevant legislation as detailed in (Table 5 Annexure 3 of the EMP). In addition to the above, Gippsland Ports’ holistic approach to waste management at the Port of Gippsland Lakes is addressed in the following two documents:

1. Safety and Environmental Management Plan: East Gippsland Ports of Gippsland Lakes, Snowy River and Mallacoota (Sections 1.7, 1.9, 7.1 and 7.2)

2. Port and Waterway Management Plan (Sections 16, 17 and 32)

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5.8 Noise and Lighting

Airborne noise will be managed in accordance with Gippsland ports’ Airborne Noise Contingency Plan (Table 5 Annexure 3 of the EMP). Lighting was examined in the Risk Assessment and considered to present a low residual risk. No specific management measures were proposed.

5.9 Vessel Strike

The risk of the vessel striking cetaceans is dealt with in Section 4.4.2 and Annexure 3 Table 6 of the EMP.

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6 MANAGEMENT ACTIONS

6.1 Alternatives to Sea Disposal

The material to be dredged is an integral part of the dynamic coastal environment of the Ninety Mile Beach. It is desirable this material remains in the system rather than being moved elsewhere (either to the land or to deeper water). Consequently it is inappropriate to consider the dredge material as a waste and make decisions on its management based on a waste management hierarchy. Table 8 shows the alternatives considered in relation to the proposed maintenance dredging.

Table 8: Sea disposal alternatives considered.

Alternative Comments

Prevention of the need for maintenance dredging

There is no practical way to prevent the potential for sand ingress and entrapment taking place while maintaining a navigable Entrance. The only means of managing this issue is the removal of sand by dredging and/or other similar techniques.

‘Do nothing’ If dredging or other removal techniques were to cease, the Entrance would soon become silted and unnavigable by vessels. Users of the Port of Gippsland Lakes, including Victoria’s largest commercial fishing fleet, would not have constant or navigable access to Bass Strait.

Re-use, Recycling or treatment of dredged material

The dredged material is natural and uncontaminated and can be used for beach nourishment and offshore berms. However, the volume of the TSHD material will exceed any foreseeable demand and no commercial demand has been identified. (By retaining it in the immediate coastal environment, there is no net loss of sand and dynamics of the coastal environment are maintained).

Disposal to land The material to be dredged is an integral part of the dynamic coastal environment of Ninety Mile Beach. Land disposal would mean that the sand is removed from this system. Land disposal is also not warranted, due to the nature of the material (clean oceanic sand) and is not feasible due to limitations of suitable space.

A TSHD has proven to be superior technology to SCD previously employed. There is no risk to

human health as dredged material is clean oceanic sand.

There are limited risks to the environment of managing the dredged material within the near shore

zone.

Background information is supplied in Section 4 and 5 of this LTMMP.

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6.2 Environmental Management Strategies

Gippsland Ports’ EMP identifies the specific management actions required under the following relevant Australian Government and Victorian Government legislation:

• Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981

• Environment protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

• Coastal Management Act 1995 (Victoria)

• Environment Protection Act 1970 (Victoria). The above requirements have been addressed by developing Project Delivery Standards (PDS) each of which sets controls, environmental limits, monitoring requirements or contingency plans to address risks identified by the Risk Assessment. Tables 5 through to 10 inclusive of Annexure 3 of the EMP detail the PDS relevant for this 10-year permit application.

6.3 Management/Monitoring Actions

Gippsland Ports’ processes for the measurement and evaluation of compliance with the PDS are given in the EMP Section 3.

6.4 Performance Indicators

The PDS for Gippsland Lakes Ocean access are listed in the EMP Section 2.2 (see Information Box 4):

Information Box 4

Gippsland Ports strives to achieve 100% ‘Full Compliance’ with all PDS listed through continual improvement. Improvements between the 2011 and 2012 TSHD program and associated audit can be seen in Figure 18 of Section 6.6. Ongoing audit compliance of these performance indicators (PDS) will be monitored throughout the period of this LTMMP to verify the effectiveness of LTMMP and EMP.

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6.5 Contingency Planning

6.5.1 Inclement Weather

In the event of inclement weather and associated wave and wind conditions, the TSHD (or SCD) will go on standby within the Port of Gippsland Lakes. Gippsland Ports’ provides real time monitoring of the following variables on their website: http://www.gippslandports.vic.gov.au/weather_lake_entrance.php:

• Significant and maximum wave height

• Peak and average wave period

• Wave direction

• Measured and predicted tide water level

• Measured and predicted current speed

• Wind speed and direction

• Air temperature

• Relative humidity

• Mean seal level pressure

• Daily rainfall.

6.5.2 Flood event

In the event of a flood occurring during a TSHD (or SCD) program, the TSHD (or SCD) will berth within the Port of Gippsland Lakes away from the main flood stream through Hopetoun Channel, The Narrows and Entrance Channel. If a flood is forecast Gippsland Ports would receive notification alerts through the Bureau of Meteorology and local media. Following a flood event, no dredging will occur until after a bathymetric survey of the Bar and Inner Channels has been undertaken. A survey may not be possible until one to two weeks post a flood event due to excessive current speeds and floating debris compromising the safety of hydrographic surveyors. Once bathymetric surveys are available, the extent of bathymetry change and works remaining will be reassessed, and dredging will continue if required.

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6.5.3 Oil spill

In the event of an oil spill from the dredge, the dredging contractor will implement their oil spill contingency measures. Gippsland Ports will also enact its ‘Gippsland Region Marine Pollution Contingency Plan’. An oil spill incident will be reported to the DSEWPAC, DSE and EPA as per Table 4, Section 3.1 and Annexure 2 of EMP.

6.5.4 Compromised Under-keel Clearance of Dredge

Due to the nature of dredging works and wave conditions in which TSHD (and SCD) operates, there are times when the vessel’s under-keel clearance may be compromised. The current speed, tide level, wave angle and wind direction all play a part in determining how the TSHD (and SCD) is positioned during dredging. At times, up to half of the TSHD may be positioned over the ‘Bar’ while dredging occurs at greater depths adjacent to a vertical ‘wall’ of sand. During loading of the hopper, the TSHD sits lower in the water and on occasions clearance between the Bar and the TSHD keel may be compromised. In this event two actions will immediately be implemented:

• The TSHD (and SCD) operator contacts Gippsland Ports for tug boat assistance and Gippsland Ports responds immediately (taking between 5 - 30 minutes, depending on time of day, i.e. within or outside of normal office hours)

• The TSHD operator commences routine procedure of ”Rainbowing” to lighten the load in the hopper. “Rainbowing” is the spray pumping of material from the TSHD hopper through a nozzle over the bow of the vessel. This spraying is the same as that used as a matter of course by a SCD.

It is noted that a TSHD can lighten its load, and therefore increase its buoyancy, quicker than water level would drop on a falling tide. In the extreme case, where under-keel clearance is compromised and swell conditions present an immediate risk to the safety of the TSHD and crew, the TSHD operator may decide to perform an emergency ‘dump’ of hopper material. This would be consistent with designated disposal area of SCD (refer Figure 5).

6.6 Continuous Improvement

Gippsland Ports’ Environmental Policy (Information Box 1) emphasises Gippsland Ports’ commitment to taking a proactive approach towards to protecting the environment. While monitoring to date indicates that Gippsland Ports’ maintenance dredging and disposal operations at Lakes Entrance are well managed and do not have significant environmental impacts, Gippsland Ports nevertheless understands its obligation to further improve its dredging performance where possible. Gippsland Ports is dredging and disposing of clean, oceanic sand which is affected by inshore processes. Gippsland Ports is currently achieving 97-98% compliance with the GLOA EMP,

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though improvements have been made as evident in Figure 18 which compares the findings from previous two independent audits.

Figure 18: Comparison of 2011 and 2012 GLOA EMP Independent Auditor Findings Opportunities for further improvements in compliance through additional monitoring appear limited. Gippsland Ports has, however, identified the following areas for improvement:

• Improved value for money - by addressing dredging volumes, design channels, dredge type and intervention periods

• Improved contractual arrangements/project management – to reduce compliance risk

• Improved dredge operability and safety through installation of sand traps

• Maintain up to date information to ensure currency of reports

• Improved community engagement

• Business improvements – meet environmental conditions at less cost, without placing environmental risks under strain

Further to the above, regular contact with State and Australian Government agencies and with all stakeholder groups including through the TACC meetings and dissemination of information will ensure that Gippsland Ports maintains its awareness of best practice and of innovations in dredging processes and methods. In Annexure 2 of the EMP, Gippsland Ports has a formal mechanism for risk/event reporting and follow-up actions, and in Section 2.3 of the EMP for external notification and reporting requirements (Table 9).

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Table 9: External reporting requirements (Table 4 of the EMP)

Gippsland Ports has developed a formal response flowchart for dealing with any complaints (Figure 19).

6.7 Auditing, Reporting and Corrective Actions

Conformance with the EMP and all approval conditions will be assessed by observation of activities, interviews, review of records and internal audits (Section 3.2 of the EMP). In addition, an independent external auditor will be engaged to assess Gippsland Ports’ implementation of the EMP, this audit coinciding with a TSHD (or SCD) dredging program. A table showing the external auditor’s comments for the 2011 dredging program and Gippsland Ports’ subsequent responses to correct reported matters is shown in Appendix 8. Table 9 Section 6.6 also details the external reporting and timing requirements associated with the GLOA program. Corrective actions are continually implemented based on:

• Recommendations from annual (typ.) independent EMP auditor reports

• Periodic reviews and updates of the GLOA Environmental Risk Register

• Reviews and updates of GLOA Environmental Management Plan

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These corrective actions mitigate future risks associated with TSHD (or SCD) dredging programs. In the event that an undesirable incident occurs during a dredging program an initial Risk/Event report (Annex 2 EMP) will be completed and actioned as per GLOA EMP (sections 2 and 3).

Figure 19: Complaints response flowchart (EMP Figure 8)

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6.8 Responsibilities

Gippsland Ports’ organisation structure and management responsibilities are outlined in the EMP Sections 2.5 through to 2.10 and in Figure 20. Furthermore, the Port Access Manager will be responsible for:

• ensuring compliance with this LTMMP

• reporting to the Determining Authority

• induction and training of Gippsland Ports’ staff and external contractor representatives to ensure understanding of and compliance with this LTMMP.

The TSHD (and SCD) dredge contractor is responsible for complying with the relevant management actions within the LTMMP and reporting any incidents to the Port Access Manager.

Figure 20: Gippsland Ports Indicative Organisational Structure (Figure 6 of the EMP)

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6.9 Review of LTMMP

The LTMMP will be reviewed annually by the Port Access Manager. The LTMMP will be forwarded to TACC invitees prior to meeting and feedback sought during TACC meeting. The LTMMP will be reviewed and updated following both the receipt of feedback from the TACC and the completion of each (typically annual) TSHD (or SCD) program. The revised LTMMP will then be submitted to DSEWPAC prior to being implemented.

6.10 Publication of LTMMP

The LTMMP will be made available to the public and TACC via Gippsland Ports’ website at www.gippslandports.vic.gov.au. Gippsland Ports will also provide the following documentation on its website:

• Environmental Management Plan

• Stakeholder Engagement Plan

• Independent Auditor’s report on EMP TSHD (or SCD) compliance.

Rev B – 9/09/2013

7 REFERENCES

AME. 2007. Lakes Entrance Existing Conditions: Marine Habitats and Communities. Report No. 382 Version 2.0 for Gippsland Ports, June 2007.

AME. 2008. Lakes Entrance Existing Conditions: Seagrass Monitoring, February 2008. Report

No. 395 Version 1.0 for Gippsland Ports, February 2008. AME. 2009. Lakes Entrance Existing Conditions: Seagrass Monitoring and Marine Habitats,

February 2009. Report No. 408 Version 1.1 for Gippsland Ports, February 2009. AME. 2012. Lakes Entrance Seagrass Survey, October 2012. Report No. 506 Version 1.0 for

Gippsland Ports, December 2012. Geochemical Assessments 2012. Lakes Entrance Sediment Quality: Data Summary for

Assessment of an Exemption from Further Testing. Report for Gippsland Ports, September 2012.

GHD. 2008. Lakes Entrance Sand Management Program “Keeping the Entrance Open” Trial.

TSHD Trial Monitoring Report. Report for Gippsland Ports, November 2008. GHD. 2009. Lakes Entrance Sand Management Program “Keeping the Entrance Open” Trial.

2009 TSHD Maintenance Campaign Report. Report for Gippsland Ports, September 2009.

GHD. 2012. Gippsland Lakes Ocean Access Project Long Term Maintenance Dredging 2011

TSHD Maintenance Dredging Campaign. Report to Gippsland Ports, March 2012. Gippsland Ports. 2007. Addendum to Lakes Entrance Sediment Quality Assessment. November

2007. Gippsland Ports. 2008. Long Term Management Plan for Dredging Lakes Entrance 2005 - 2015.

Progress report for discussion by Technical and Consultative Committee Meeting #3. May 2008.

Gippsland Ports. 2009. Draft Only for TACC Discussion Long Term Management Plan for

Dredging Lakes Entrance 2009 - 2014 Version 3. Hallermeier, R. 1981. A profile zonation for seasonal sand beaches from wave climate. Coastal

Engineering, 4 (1981) 253-277, Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam. John Kowarsky & Associates. 2005. Long Term Management Plan for Dredging Lakes Entrance

2005 – 2015. Version 1. Report for Gippsland Ports, 10th

June 2005. John Kowarsky & Associates. 2007. Long Term Management Plan for Dredging Lakes Entrance

2005 – 2015. Version 2. Report for Gippsland Ports, 27th

February 2007. URS. 2007. Lakes Entrance Sediment Quality Assessment. Report for Gippsland Ports, October

2007.

Rev B – 9/09/2013

Appendix 1: Technical and Advisory Consultative Committee Meetings

TACC MEETING #1: 22nd

MARCH 2005

STAKEHOLDER WORKSHOP: 15th

FEBRUARY 2006

TACC MEETING #2: DECEMBER 2006

TACC MEETING #3: May 2008

TACC MEETING #4: April 2009

TACC MEETING #5: October 2009

TACC MEETING #6 October 2010 (no records available)

TACC MEETING #7: November 2011

TACC MEETING #8: October 2012 (plus meeting notes)

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TACC MEETING #1: 22

nd March 2005

ORGANISATION NAME POSITION COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT

Department of Environment and Heritage

Mr Matthew Johnston Assistant Director Approval and Audit

Section

STATE GOVERNMENT

Gippsland Ports

Mr Geoff Kohlman Chief Executive Officer

Captain Peter Hinksman Chair, TACC

Waterways Manager

Mr Bertrand Smedts Ports Engineer

Mr Greg Hatt Operations Manager

Mr Peter Bull Marine Officer

Mr Shayne Clarke East Gippsland Manager

Mr Dale Connelly Master of April Hamer

Member for Gippsland, House of Representatives

Mr John Fallon for The Hon. Craig Ingram, MP

Department of Sustainability and Environment

Mr Anthony Costigan Team Leader Coast and Crown Land

Management, Bairnsdale

Mr Lionel Dukakis Regional Indigenous Facilitator,

Bairnsdale

Ms Faye Bedford Coordinator, Little Tern Taskforce

Environment Protection Authority Mr David Guy

Mr Bob Fisher Parks Victoria Ranger in Charge, Bairnsdale

Gippsland Coastal Board Mr Chris Barry for Mr Brett

Millington Executive Officer

LAKES ENTRANCE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE

Mr Peter Clarke Member

Mr Steve Melisakis Member

Mr Harry Mitchelson Member

LEFCOL

Mr Tom Davies Board Member, Gippsland Ports

Mr Jeff North

CONSULTANTS

Evers Consult Mr Heini Evers Principal

John Kowarsky & Associates Dr John Kowarsky Principal

APOLOGIES


Ms Jo Connellan Manager Major Projects, Public Land

Management, Coasts & Alpine

East Gippsland Shire Council Ms Kate Nelson

Lakes Entrance Consultative Committee

Mr John Guillott

Lakes Entrance Business and Tourist Association

Mr Darren Chester

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LESMP STAKEHOLDERS WORKSHOP: 15th

February 2006

ATTENDEES

NAME TITLE ORGANISATION

Geoff Kohlman CEO Gippsland Ports

Peter Hinksman Waterways Mgr Gippsland Ports

Greg Hatt Operations Mgr Gippsland Ports

Steve Martin Finance & Business Mgr Gippsland Ports

Andrew Fullard Boatyards & Projects Mgr Gippsland Ports

Bruce Warr Board Member Gippsland Ports

Gail Morley Board Member Gippsland Ports

Joan Liley Board Member Gippsland Ports

Tom Davies Board Member Gippsland Ports

Robert Fordham Board Member Gippsland Ports

Roz Kilgour Manager Projects Review Department of Sustainability and Environment

Ted Sephton Senior Project Officer Department of Sustainability and Environment

Dan Meehan Corporate Finance Department of Sustainability and Environment

David Scott Senior Property Officer Department of Sustainability and Environment

David Guy Region Officer Environmental Protection Authority Peter Kambouris Output Leader in Natural Values Parks Victoria Region

Nicholas Oats Policy Advisor Department Premier & Cabinet

Chris Waites Group Manager Infrastructure East Gippsland Shire Council

Peter Clarke President LEFCOL

John Guillot LEFCOL Board Member LEFCOL

Rod Casement LEFCOL Board Member LEFCOL

Darren Chester President LEBTA

Craig Ingram Member for East Gippsland Legislative Assembly, Parliament of Victoria

John Fallon Advisor for Craig Ingram

Zoe Toogood Project Management & Procurement Consultant CorpSupport Pty Ltd

Carolyn Munckton Communications Consultant CM Communications

Mal Brown Communications Consultant Scarlet Consulting Australasia

John Kowarsky Environmental Consultant John Kowarsky & Associates

APOLOGIES

NAME ORGANISATION

Mathew Johnston Department of Environment and Heritage

Ashley Smith Department of Treasury and Finance

Kate Nelson East Gippsland Shire Council

Brett Millington Gippsland Coastal Board

Graeme Dear East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority

Jo Connellan Department of Sustainability and Environment

Anthony Costigan Department of Sustainability and Environment

Denis Mathews Parks Victoria

Athena Andriotis Department of Premier and Cabinet

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TACC MEETING #2: 7th

December 2006

For apologies received for the above meeting, please see following page

ORGANISATION NAME POSITION COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT


Mr Mattthew Johnston Assistant Director Approval and Audit

Section

STATE GOVERNMENT

Gippsland Ports

Mr Geoff Kohlman Chief Executive Officer

Mr Bruce Green Chair, TACC

Dredging Manager

Mr Andrew Fullard LESMP Program Manager

Mr Greg Hatt Operations Manager

Mr Shayne Clarke East Gippsland Manager

Mr Rob Anderson Harbour Master

Mr Greg Creedon Environment, Health and Safety

Manager

Member for Gippsland, House of Representatives

Mr John Fallon for The Hon. Craig Ingram, MP


Mr Ted Sephton Senior Project Officer

Environment Protection Authority Ms Elizabeth Radcliffe Regional Manager

Parks Victoria Mr Bob Fisher Ranger in Charge, Bairnsdale

OTHERS

Lakes Entrance Fishing Industry Consultative Committee

Mr Steve Melisakis Member

Mr Harry Mitchelson Member

University of Melbourne & Catchment to Sea P/L

Professor Roger Grayson

CONSULTANTS

GHD Ms Martina Cusack Manager

GHD Mr Doug Oldfield Technical Manager

GHD Mr Frans Hoogerwerf Dredging Consultant

Corp Support Ms Zoe Toogood Principal

John Kowarsky & Associates Dr John Kowarsky Principal

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Apologies for TACC Meeting #2

Rev B – 9/09/2013

TACC MEETING #3: 15th

May 2008

Rev B – 9/09/2013

TACC Meeting #4 (this and next page) 16

th April 2009

Attending Title NAME POSITION ORGANISATION

David Morton (delegate)

Ms. Natasha Vasey-Ellis Executive Officer Gippsland Coastal Board

Yes Dr. John Kowarsky Environmental Consultant John Kowarsky & Associates

No reply Mr. Matthew Johnston Assistant Director, Ports & Marine Section

Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts

Apology Mr. Mark Rosenthal Team Leader (Planning and Lands) Resources and Infrastructure

Department of Premier and Cabinet

No reply Mrs. Marg McMahon Team Leader Coast and Crown Land Manager Bairnsdale


Yes Ms. Faye Bedford Wildlife Management Officer Department of Sustainability and Environment

Yes Ms. Lynn Kisler Manager Major Projects, Public Land Management, Coasts & Alpine


Yes Ms. Marjorie Thorpe Regional Indigenous Facilitator, Bairnsdale


No reply Mr. Garth Bradbury Senior Project Officer Department of Sustainability and Environment

Apology Ms. Jenny Atta Assistant Director Department of Treasury and Finance

Yes Mr. Chris Waites Director Infrastructure East Gippsland Shire Council

Apology Ms. Kate Nelson Director Planning & Community East Gippsland Shire Council

Yes Mr. David Guy Environment Protection Officer Environmental Protection Authority

Yes Mr. Andrew Fullard Project Manager Gippsland Ports

Yes Mr. Bruce Green Dredging Manager Gippsland Ports

Apology Mr. Dale Connally Master of April Hamer Gippsland Ports

Yes Mr. Nick Murray CEO Gippsland Ports

Apology Mr. Greg Hatt Operations Manager Gippsland Ports

Apology Mr. Shayne Clarke East Gippsland Manager Gippsland Ports

Apology Mr. Steve Martin Finance & Business Manager Gippsland Ports

Yes Mr. Dale Sumner CEO LEFCOL

No reply Mr. Paul Coggan President Lakes Entrance Business and Tourism Assoc.

No reply Mr. Harry Mitchelson Member Lakes Entrance Consultative Committee

No reply Mr. Steve Melissakis Member Lakes Entrance Consultative Committee

No reply Mr. John Guillot Guillot Enterprises

No reply Mr. Peter Clarke President LEFCOL

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No reply Ms. Brooke Colbert Senior Adviser, Minister for the Environment

VIC Legislative Assembly

Yes Mr. Craig Ingram Member for East Gippsland VIC Legislative Assembly

Yes Mr. John Fallon for Member for East Gippsland VIC Legislative Assembly

Apology Mr. Will McCutcheon Chief Ranger Parks Victoria

No reply Mr. Roger Fenwick Regional Program Coordinator NVM

Parks Victoria

Yes Ms. Catherine Masters Engineer Coasts & Ports GHD Pty Ltd

Yes Ms. Michelle Jeffreys Senior Engineer, Marine Group GHD Pty Ltd

Yes Mr. Ray Tyshing Manager Marine GHD Pty Ltd

Yes Mr. Bernie Smith Chairman Gippsland Ports

Yes Mr. David Holding E H & S Manager Gippsland Ports

Yes Mr. Ian McDougall Technical Officer Gippsland Ports

No reply Ms. Sonja Bertotto Assets Manager, City & Bays region

Parks Victoria

Apology Mr. Darren Chester Federal Member for Gippsland Federal House of Representatives

Yes Mr. Peter Wheeler School of Geography & Environmental Science

Apology Mr. Steve Koslowski CEO East Gippsland Shire Council

No reply Mr. Graeme Dear CEO East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority

Yes Mr. Peter Hinksman Board Member Gippsland Ports

Apology Mr. Antony Heath Charter Boat Association

Plus Peter Johnston

Mr. Tony Fredericks President Charter Boat Association

Yes Mr. Dick Brumley Fisheries Management Officer Department of Primary Industries

No reply Mr. Owen Grassby Fisher

Apology Mr. Geoffrey Swanton Acting Waterways Manager MSV

No reply Mr. Russell Broomhall Partnerships Manager EGCMA

Yes Mr. Kevin Barling Fisher

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Invitees and attendees (this and next page) Fifth Technical Advisory and Consultative Committee Meeting

Lakes Entrance 29

th October 2009

Attending Title First Surname POSITION ORGANISATION

Ms. Jenny Atta Assistant Director Department of Treasury and Finance

Mr. Kevin Barling Fisherman

Ms. Faye Bedford Wildlife Management Officer Department of Sustainability and Environment

Ms. Sonja Bertotto Assets Manager, City & Bays region Parks Victoria

Yes Mr Graeme Box Parks Victoria

Yes Mr. Garth Bradbury Senior Project Officer Department of Sustainability and Environment

RTS Mr. Russell Broomhall Partnerships Manager EGCMA

Apology Mr. Dick Brumley Fisheries Management Officer Department of Primary Industries

Apology Mr. Darren Chester Federal Member for Gippsland Federal House of Representatives

Mr. Shayne Clarke East Gippsland Manager Gippsland Ports

Yes Mr. Peter Clarke President LEFCOL

Mr. Paul Coggan President Lakes Entrance Business and Tourism Assoc.

Ms. Brooke Colbert Senior Adviser, Minister for the Environment VIC Legislative Assembly

Apology Mr. Dale Connally Master of April Hamer Gippsland Ports

Apology Mr Rodney Croft Environmental Planner Department of Sustainabilty and Environment

Mr. Graeme Dear CEO East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority

Mr. John Fallon for Member for East Gippsland VIC Legislative Assembly

Apology Mr. Roger Fenwick Regional Program Coordinator NVM Parks Victoria

Yes Mr. Tony Fredericks President Charter Boat Association

Yes Mr. Andrew Fullard Project Manager Gippsland Ports

Apology Mr. Owen Grassby Fisherman

Yes Mr. Bruce Green Dredging Manager Gippsland Ports

Yes Mr. John Guillot Guillot Enterprises

Apology Mr. David Guy Environment Protection Officer Environmental Protection Authority

Yes Mr. Greg Hatt Operations Manager Gippsland Ports

Mr. Antony Heath Charter Boat Association

Apology Mr. Peter Hinksman Board Member Gippsland Ports

Mr. David Holding E H & S Manager Gippsland Ports

Yes Mr. Craig Ingram Member for East Gippsland VIC Legislative Assembly

Yes Ms. Michelle Jeffrey Senior Engineer, Marine Group GHD Pty Ltd

Apology Mr. Mathew Johnston Assistant Director, Ports & Marine Section


Yes Mr Peter Johnston Secretary Charter Boat Association

Ms. Lynn Kisler

Strategic Policy and Information Systems Public Land Division


Apology Mr. Steve Koslowski CEO East Gippsland Shire Council

Rev B – 9/09/2013

Yes Mr. John Kowarsky Environmental Consultant John Kowarsky & Associates

Apology Mr. Steve Martin Finance & Business Manager Gippsland Ports

Apology Ms. Catherine Masters Engineer Coasts & Ports GHD Pty Ltd

Apology Mr. Will McCutcheon Chief Ranger Parks Victoria

Apology Mr. Ian McDougall Technical Officer Gippsland Ports

Yes Mrs. Marg McMahon Team Leader Coast and Crown Land Manager Bairnsdale


Mr. Steve Melissakis Member Lakes Entrance Consultative Committee

Mr. Harry Mitchelson Member Lakes Entrance Consultative Committee

Mr. Ian Morland Manager Coasts & Crown Land Department of Sustainability and Environment

Yes Mr. Nick Murray CEO Gippsland Ports

Ms. Kate Nelson Director Planning & Community East Gippsland Shire Council

Apology Mr. Andrew Newman Senior Policy Manager Department of Transport

Yes Ms. Jennifer Ogrodnick Coastal Engineer GHD Pty Ltd

Remove Mr. Mark Rosenthal Team Leader (Planning and Lands) Resources and Infrastructure Department of Premier and Cabinet

Apology Mr. Bernie Smith Chairman Gippsland Ports

Yes Mr. Dale Sumner CEO LEFCOL

Mr. Geoffrey Swanton Acting Waterways Manager MSV

Apology Ms. Mahani Taylor Assistant Director Department of Environment and Heritage

Ms. Marjorie Thorpe Regional Indigenous Facilitator, Bairnsdale


Yes Mr. Ray Tyshing Manager Marine GHD Pty Ltd

Ms. Natasha Vasey-Ellis Executive Officer Gippsland Coastal Board

Apology Mr. Chris Waites Director Infrastructure East Gippsland Shire Council

Mr. Peter Wheeler School of Geography & Environmental Science

Yes Mr Matt Youell Director Services East Gippsland Shire Council

Yes Ms. Julia Menzies Fisheries Management Officer Department of Primary Industries

Invited 59

Attendees 19

Apology 18

Rev B – 9/09/2013

Gippsland Ports

Technical Advisory & Consultative Committee

Meeting No. 7

Commencing at 10.05 am

10 November 2011

At Gippsland Lakes Fishing Club

Lakes Entrance

Attendees Apologies

David Holding - GP

Mark Spykers - GP

Don Hough - DSE

Rod Croft - DSE

Graham Reeve – EGSC

Tony Fredericks - LE

David Morton - GCB

Ross Scott - GEG

Ivan Knight - GEG

Sonja Bertoto - DoT

Richard Mostard – GP Board

Dale Sumner - LEFCOL

Peter Clarke – LE Fisherman

David Guy - EPA

Will McCutcheon - PV

Stephen Reynolds – Water Tech

Andrew McCowan – Water Tech

Marg Supplitt - GP

Nick Murray - GP

Ian McDougall - GP

Peter Johnson - SEWPAC

Matt Bateson – Fisheries

Dick Brumley – Fisheries

Dennis Snowdon – SEWPAC

Graeme Dear – EGCMA

Darren Chester - MP

Tim Bull - MP

Maggie Baron – DoT

Steve Melasakis – LE

Peter Ryan - MP

Peter Hall - MP

Phil Davis - MP

Martin Jaggs – MSV

Martin Fuller – WGCMA

Harry Mitchelson – LE

Tom Davies – GP Chairman

Peter Hinksman – GP Board

Rev B – 9/09/2013

Gippsland Ports

Technical Advisory & Consultative Committee

Meeting No. 8

Rev B – 9/09/2013

Rev B – 9/09/2013

Appendix 2: Gippsland Ports Stakeholder Engagement Plan

Rev B – 9/09/2013

Rev B – 9/09/2013

Appendix 3: Decision on EPBC Act Referral 2011/5392 (page 1 of 4)

Rev B – 9/09/2013


Rev B – 9/09/2013

Appendix 4: Current Consent under the Victorian Coastal Management Act (page 1

of 2)

Rev B – 9/09/2013

Appendix 4: Current Consent under the Victorian Coastal Management Act (page 2 of

2)

Rev B – 9/09/2013

Appendix 5: EES Decision Notice

Rev B – 9/09/2013

Appendix 6: EPBC Act Protected Matters Report February 2011 (page 1 of 15)

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Appendix 6: EPBC Act Protected Matters Report 4 February 2011 (page 2 of 15)

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Rev B – 9/09/2013

Appendix 6: EPBC Act Protected Matters Report 4 February 2011 (page 13of 15)

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Appendix 6: EPBC Act Protected Matters Report 4 February 2011 (page15 of 15)

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Appendix 7: Protected Species Assessment (page 1 of 4)

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Appendix 7: Assessment of Listed species (page 2 of 4)

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Rev B – 9/09/2013

Appendix 8: External audit of 2011 implementation of EMP

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