IHD Engineering Awards submission - Fremantle Ports

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Background Fremantle Ports Dredging Reference Group Report by Bernard Bowen to the CEO of Fremantle Ports Fremantle Ports established a Dredging Reference Group (of Stakeholders) on 27 January 2011 so as to have an on-‐going linkage to community, industry and regulatory representatives in relation to Fremantle Ports Inner Harbour dredging project to deepen the harbour. One of the Ministerial Conditions, in relation to the project, was to “prepare and implement a Water Quality Monitoring Program as a component of the Dredge Spoil Disposal Management Plan (DSDMP)”. The results of the Water Quality Monitoring Program (WQMP) and the relevant parts of the DSDMP were reported to the Dredging Reference Group for information and to provide an opportunity for questions and discussion. In addition, Fremantle Ports provided an update on the management of the dredging project at each meeting of the Dredging Reference Group. I was requested to chair the meetings of the Dredging Reference Group. The following text provides some personal observations that may assist future activities involving a reference group. Observations Value of establishing a Dredging Reference Group The Dredging Reference Group held its first meeting on 27 January 2011. The project had already commenced and there was some public criticism at that time. The formation of the Reference Group provided a ‘hands-‐on’ process for direct communication and discussion of the water quality monitoring results with community representatives. Those present at the meetings gained an understanding that the matters of concern were being given proper attention. Council representatives on the Reference Group provided advice that pubic expressions of concern to Council staff were much reduced after the Reference Group had been established and became effective. I encourage the early appointment of stakeholder Reference Groups, if they are to be appointed, so that the members ‘grow’ with the project and have an opportunity to ‘get to know’ the administrators, managers and technical specialists at an early date. A communication strategy Fremantle Ports had a well-‐established communication strategy of which the meetings of the Dredging Reference Group were one part. This is important. It would not have been wise to rely solely on the Group meetings for public communication. 1
The communication strategy appeared to give sound attention to the December 2003 document “Interim Industry Guide to Community Involvement” issued by the Chair of the EPA and the CEO of the (then) Department of Environment. The frequency of meetings Meetings were held monthly during the main dredging period. This was about right. If it had been every two months, members would have ‘lost touch’ with the essential elements of the project. The meeting focus Under each Agenda Item, there was an opportunity for questions and discussion. This provided an opportunity for the Group to frame specific advice to Fremantle Ports. The Agenda was standard for each meeting. The essential elements were: • Report by Fremantle Ports o Update of dredging operations o Management action taken since last meeting o Key press articles, press statements, information sheets o Key stakeholder meetings o Information posted on the website • Report on WQMP results (data) by the consultants o Reporting protocols to the Office of the EPA o Schedule of monitoring results posted on the website since the last meeting o Monitoring results for public health and their relation to the trigger levels o Monitoring results for aesthetics and human amenity and their relation to trigger levels o Monitoring results for ecosystem health and their relation to trigger levels. • Stakeholder feedback o Issues not already covered in the preceding discussions o Requests for additional information. Status of the monitoring results (data) presented The monitoring results presented to the Group had already been placed on the Fremantle Ports website and had already been provided to the Office of the EPA. It is important that the correct protocol of data distribution be undertaken. The data brought to the Group provided an opportunity for explanations, discussions and questions. 2
Page 1 and 2: Inner Harbour Deepening, Rous Head
Page 3 and 4: FREMANTLE PORTS Executive Summary T
Page 5: FREMANTLE PORTS Mandatory Judging C
Page 8 and 9: Safety of diving teams and the mari
Page 10 and 11: Mandatory Judging Criteria Criteria
Page 12 and 13: Also unique to the project was the
Page 14 and 15: Value adding, export potential As a
Page 20 and 21: Optional Judging Criteria Criteria
Page 22 and 23: Inner H 9m 11m 13m 14.7m Factsheet:
Page 24 and 25: In the construction of the seawall
Page 26 and 27: Optional Judging Criteria Criteria
Page 28 and 29: Inner Harbour Deepening and Berth W
Page 32 and 33: Dissemination of the results Di
Page 34: Minister for Environment. It is

IHD Engineering Awards submission - Fremantle Ports

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?