The Dampier Port Authority (DPA), proposed to undertake a port enhancement project at Dampier, approximately 1,300km north of Perth, Western Australia.

The primary objective of the port enhancement was to enable larger vessels to enter the basin and to increase the berthing capacity of the port.  The development consisted of the extension of the Dampier Cargo Wharf, construction of a new Bulk Liquids Berth and Bulk Solid Berth, and dredging of the shipping channel and berthing basin.

Dredging commenced in December 2002 and was completed April 2004.  It was carried out using a trailing hopper dredge and the bulk of dredging occurred without overflow, so that both fine materials as well as larger fractions were transported and dumped at the designated spoil grounds.

GEMS was commissioned to undertake a modelling study to investigate the likely fate of discharge sediments from the dredging program. The primary aim of this study was to identify the extent and levels of deposited sediment and turbidity throughout the period of dredging.  This information was used to assist the process of selecting reference and impact sites for on going coral health monitoring.

Aerial photo showing the increased turbidity in Mermaid Sound during dredging, May 1987.