Calls to halt Freo dredging

Fremantle MP Adele Carles has called on the State Government to immediately halt Fremantle Harbour dredging to assess the impact the $250 million project would have on the already stressed Swan River.

Work began last week to move 3.1 million cubic metres of sludge from the inner harbour so it could accommodate giant bulk container ships.

Ms Carles said plumes of silt could be seen along the river after only two days of dredging.

"It is clear they haven't looked at the impact on the Swan River, they haven't considered what's going to happen with the already stressed dolphin and fish population and our river system is already overloaded with pollutants," she said.

"We cannot go adding more and more risk to an already overstressed ecosystem."