FROM THE OFFICE OF VRFISH – VICTORIAS’ RECREATIONAL FISHING PEAK BODY

$100 MILLION IS NOT ENOUGH

The Australian Government has given the go ahead for the
Port of Melbourne Channel Deepening Project.

December 14, saw the Victorian Minister for the Environment and Climate Change,
Gavin Jennings, approve the Project under the Coastal Management Act 1995, subject to
the Port of Melbourne Corporation adhering to the comprehensive Environmental
Management Plan, backed up by a $100 million environmental bond and overseen by an
Independent Environmental Monitor.

Then yesterday in a Statement made by the Federal Minister for Environment, Heritage
and the Arts, Peter Garrett said “in addition, the Port must set aside at least $500,000 for
protection of the Ramsar wetland areas, at least $100,000 for migratory bird monitoring
and at least $300,000 for protection of the Australian grayling.”

This equates to only $100,900,000! VRFish Chairman, Geoff Cramer, today released a statement, saying that recreational and professional fishing, aquaculture, tourism and added value from Marine Protected Areas alone have a net worth of close to $2 Billion per annum.

Let’s set a more realistic environmental bond of at least $5,000,000,000.

“There are obvious shortcomings in the process, and vital information has been ignored
in the Supplementary Environmental Effects Statement. Hence, any current decisions and
assessment are based on flawed, undisclosed or inadequate data and we request a further
and immediate re-assessment” concluded Geoff Cramer.

Alison Gibson
VRFish Administration Officer
VRFish – Victoria’s Recreational Fishing Peak Body
Marine House, Ground Floor, 24 York Street South Melbourne Vic 3205
Telephone: 9686 7077 Facsimile: 9682 1066 Web: www.vrfish.com.au