{"id":8939,"date":"2020-07-29T11:10:46","date_gmt":"2020-07-29T01:10:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nesptropical.edu.au\/?page_id=8939"},"modified":"2020-07-29T12:01:15","modified_gmt":"2020-07-29T02:01:15","slug":"guiding-sustainable-port-development-on-the-gbr","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/nesptropical.edu.au\/index.php\/news-events\/e-newsletters-2\/january-2020\/guiding-sustainable-port-development-on-the-gbr\/","title":{"rendered":"Guiding Sustainable port development on the GBR"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"TWQ dredging impact surveys dredging research helps set environmental trigger levels at Port of Townsville expansion project<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Cutting-edge underwater monitoring technology has enabled NESP TWQ Hub researchers to develop models to help decision-makers assess the risk posed to inshore corals by port dredging.<\/p>\n

The project team, led by Dr Ross Jones at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), collected a wide variety of water condition data in close proximity to a working suction-hopper dredge at Cleveland Bay near Townsville.<\/p>\n

Light is essential for corals and the researchers used a variety of methods including multi- and hyper-spectral light sensors to describe how water cloudiness (turbidity) caused by dredging and storms changes the quantity and the quality of underwater light.<\/p>\n

The data was then used to develop highly accurate simulations at the Australian Institute of Marine Science\u2019s SeaSim aquarium facility, and the responses of several species of inshore coral and sponges examined over extended periods.<\/p>\n

The results and analyses in the project\u2019s recent final report<\/strong><\/a> have provided a means of assessing whether the changes in underwater light associated with dredging could have biological effects – and hence to reactively manage the dredging activity.<\/p>\n

Melinda Louden at Port of Townsville said the recommendations from Dr Jones and his team would be implemented as the Port of Townsville Expansion Project proceeded.<\/p>\n

\u201cPort of Townsville has adopted the findings from the report produced by Ross Jones and the NESP TWQ Hub,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The following have been incorporated into the current monitoring program for the Port of Townsville capital dredging project which is at Stage 1 of the long-term 30 year Townsville Port Expansion Project:<\/p>\n