Critical dredging begins on contaminated river deposits
ONE of the most contentious aspects of Melbourne's channel-deepening project begins today, when contaminated sediment around the mouth of the Yarra River is disturbed. The vessel Goomai will begin dredging the top layer of Yarra riverbed above crucial underground infrastructure, including a Melbourne Water sewer that runs to the Werribee Treatment Plant. The dredging will move sediments that are contaminated with lead, mercury, zinc, DDT and other chemicals dumped over many decades of industry in Melbourne's west.