Dredge protesters hit office of Bellarine MP

Andrew Mathieson and Jessica Benton
Activists yesterday took their protest against dredging Port Phillip Bay to the office of Bellarine MP Lisa Neville.
The protest coincided with plans to start work on the project after giant dredger Queen of the Netherlands docked in Melbourne earlier in the week.
Port of Melbourne Corporat-ion had hoped to start dredging the bay yesterday but was still waiting for Federal Environ-ment Minister Peter Garrett to give final approval to the project’s environmental management plan when the Independ-ent went to press.
The giant vessel will use to remove millions of cubic metres of sand, rock and silt from a shipping channel to Melbourne.
Peak environmental group Blue Wedges had a victory in a Federal Court directions hearing on Wednesday to appeal an earlier decision last month to approve dredging.
Bellarine Seastar, an arm of Blue Wedges, had wanted to discuss concerns over damage that protesters allege the dredge ship would inflict on the sea life with Member for Bellarine Lisa Neville yesterday.
But Ms Neville was not in her Newcomb office.
“We want Lisa, as our main MP, to listen clearly to her constituents,” Seastar president Catherine Jones said
“They’re saying they don’t want the bay dredged and we want her to convey that back to (Premier) Brumby.”
The protest group had wanted to present Ms Neville with a list of demands.
“Under no conditions should it go ahead,” Ms Jones said.
She called the dredging a “senseless project”.
Ms Jones vowed concerned environmental groups would not “put anybody’s life at risk” during protests.
Protesters will be required to remain at least 200 metres from the dredger at all times.
Port of Melbourne spokes-person Simon Breer said the organisation respected the right “of people to protest”.
“The protesters have been well behaved so far,” he said.
Port of Melbourne Corporat-ion said dredging could start as early as today despite Mr Gar-rett seeking stronger environmental conditions before giving final approval to the project.
Mr Breer said Port of Melbourne had to give Blue Wedges 24 hours notice before starting work on the project.
He said dredging was already a month behind schedule.
The work would run 24 hours a day, seven days a week and only stop to dispose of spoil, Mr Breer said.
Proponents want the bay dredged so new-generation ships with deeper hulls can navigate the bay to reach Melbourne’s port.
Supporters say thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in trade rely on the project.
Opponents fear widespread environmental damage.