In 2015, the NSW Government introduced regulatory requirements for the use of ultra-low sulphur fuel (0.1% or less) for cruise ships in Sydney Harbour. Concerns by residents led the NSW Government to this change. Subsequently, the Commonwealth Government assisted in the introduction of this standard by gazetting the use of ultra-low sulphur fuel under the Navigation Act. This more stringent standard has applied in most of Europe, the North Sea, within 200 nautical miles of most of the North American and Canadian coasts, the United States Caribbean Sea since 1 January 2015, and for ports and inland waterways in Turkey from 2012.
Prior to the change in Sydney, monitoring near White Bay revealed no breaches of Australian air quality standards but there were 32 breaches of the World Health Organisation’s daily sulphur dioxide limit. The monitoring program introduced by Victorian Ports Corporation (Melbourne) in 2016-17 revealed higher concentrations of sulphur dioxide and particulate matter than at nearby EPA air quality monitoring stations, 45 breaches of the World Health Organisation’s daily sulphur dioxide limit and exceeded the Australian National Environment Protection Measure (NEPM) annual average PM2.5 limit.
Since the mandating of ultra-low sulphur fuel in Sydney Harbour in 2016 there has been a dramatic improvement in air quality. There have been no exceedances of the daily World Health Organisation’s sulphur dioxide limit at nearby monitoring stations.
BCNA has written to the Victorian Government Minister for the Environment and to the Commonwealth Minister for Infrastructure and Transport requesting the mandatory use of ultra-low sulphur fuel for ships using Station Pier.
This is the web voice of the Beacon Cove Neighbourhood Association, Inc., Port Melbourne, Australia. It provides information on who the association is, our aims and aspirations for our shared community, and information on our activities.
Events for your Diary
April
Sat 20, 9:30-10:30am: Love our Streets, meeting at 109 tram terminus Mon 22, 4pm: Meeting about Barak Beacon Housing Redevelopment, Julier Reserve Netball Club, 79-111 Dunstan Parade
May
Sat 4, 9-10am: Beach Patrol, meeting at Centenary Bridge Pylon between Station Pier and Port Melbourne Yacht Club Sat 18, 9:30-10:30am: Love our Streets, meeting at Olive’s Corner, corner of Bay & Liardet Streets
June
Sat 1, 9-10am: Beach Patrol, meeting at Lagoon Pier Sat 15, 9:30-10:30am: Love our Streets, meeting at Graham Street 109 tram stop
May
June
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