Waterway Management Audit Case Study

WATERWAY MANAGEMENT AUDIT
Victorian Level Crossing Removal Authority

OVERVIEW

MSA completed an audit on the waterway management in place to manage closures on Patterson River while bridge construction works took place at Carrum in support of the level crossing removal project.

THE ISSUE

The Southern Program Alliance (SPA) who are undertaking the level crossing removal project in Southern Victoria needed to make closures on Patterson River to allow bridge works to be completed. SPA engaged MSA to undertake an audit of the waterway closure management to determine their compliance with legislative requirements.

THE SOLUTION

MSA initially conducted a review of plans, risk assessments and notices to mariners to verify compliance with Victorian Marine Safety Act, the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) and Transport Safety Victoria.

Following this review, audits were undertaken on Patterson River during daylight and darkness to ascertain the level of compliance with the documentation review and also the legislative requirements.

Following this, MSA delivered a report to the SPA outlining the outcomes of the audit. This report detailed any areas where non-compliances with the regulations or plans were identified and measures they needed to make to achieve compliance. The report also highlighted recommendations where management of the closures could be improved to provide for safe movement of marine traffic from the boat ramp at Patterson River out into Port Phillip Bay.

The SPA are experts in civil construction and working in a marine environment was unfamiliar to them. MSA were able to provide their knowledge and expertise in this area to provide assurance and recommendations that their management of the waterway they had in place not only was compliant with legislation but also provided for safe transit through the river by marine traffic.