Environmental consultants will survey sensitive marine habitats before and after the dredging works to ensure impacts are not greater than predicted in the Public Environmental Review. If water quality triggers are exceeded, additional habitat monitoring will be undertaken to avoid further impacts.

Water monitoring

Environmental consultants are undertaking a water quality monitoring program during and after the dredging and Rous Head reclamation in compliance with the environmental approval conditions. This is in addition to the routine water quality monitoring that the Department of Water and Fremantle Ports regularly undertake in the Swan River.

Noise monitoring

Noise monitoring for the berth works was carried out in November 2008 during a works trial of the piling and concrete cutting. Monitoring was undertaken at several locations around the port to measure the impact of these activities against everyday noise levels. The results showed that while the noise from the works was above normal ambient noise levels the difference was not significant and within acceptable limits. Periodic noise monitoring has been undertaken since the berth works started.