❓ Question on Notice regarding dust management and air quality monitoring at Port Hedland, focusing on industrial operations, LiDAR technology, and potential relocation of residents/industries due to dust pollution.
AnsweredQoN 487Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DUST MANAGEMENT — AIR QUALITY MONITORING —
PORT HEDLAND
487. Hon ALISON XAMON to the Minister for Environment:
I ask this question on behalf of Hon
Robin Chapple, who is off on urgent parliamentary business.
I refer to the Port Hedland dust
program established under the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation
and to the Premier's media statement of 22 March titled ''New
border controls to help protect Western Australia''.
(1) Does the
minister agree with the Premier that all industrial operations at the port of
Port Hedland are essential services?
(2) Of the
operations referred to in (1), which are fitted with light detection and
ranging sensors to monitor dust pollution?
(3) Given that
the source of the dust is still unknown, does the minister agree that mandating
LiDAR sensors for all operations in the area would definitively locate the
source of the pollution?
(4) Given that the Western Australian Planning
Commission is drafting a document to restrict residences in the town,
why are operations allowed to commence or to continue at Port Hedland with no
dust monitoring requirement?
(5) Should
efforts to mitigate the dust pollution problem fail, does the minister intend
to recommend the relocation of residents and/or industries?
PORT HEDLAND
487. Hon ALISON XAMON to the Minister for Environment:
I ask this question on behalf of Hon
Robin Chapple, who is off on urgent parliamentary business.
I refer to the Port Hedland dust
program established under the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation
and to the Premier's media statement of 22 March titled ''New
border controls to help protect Western Australia''.
(1) Does the
minister agree with the Premier that all industrial operations at the port of
Port Hedland are essential services?
(2) Of the
operations referred to in (1), which are fitted with light detection and
ranging sensors to monitor dust pollution?
(3) Given that
the source of the dust is still unknown, does the minister agree that mandating
LiDAR sensors for all operations in the area would definitively locate the
source of the pollution?
(4) Given that the Western Australian Planning
Commission is drafting a document to restrict residences in the town,
why are operations allowed to commence or to continue at Port Hedland with no
dust monitoring requirement?
(5) Should
efforts to mitigate the dust pollution problem fail, does the minister intend
to recommend the relocation of residents and/or industries?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank Hon Robin
Chapple for some notice of the question.
(1) The mining industry has been a vital part of
insulating our state from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was deemed an essential
service to safeguard jobs and the economic prosperity of the state.
(2) I have been
advised that the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation is not aware
of any light detection and ranging equipment operating in Port Hedland at this
time.
(3)–(5) The
Department of Water and Environmental Regulation regulates dust emissions from
port operations under the Environmental Protection Act 1986. I am advised that
although LiDAR can be useful in identifying
sources and pathways of dust in Port Hedland, it has some limitations and is
only one of a number of means of identifying emission sources. All
licensed port operations in Port Hedland are required to operate a network of
air quality monitors around the perimeter of their premises to monitor and
respond to elevated dust levels. Licensees are also subject to a range of other
dust monitoring and mitigation requirements as part of licence conditions. The
Department of Water and Environmental Regulation is continuing to implement the government-endorsed recommendations of the
Port Hedland Dust Management Taskforce. This includes taking control of the
Port Hedland ambient air quality monitoring network and developing and
implementing dust management guidelines for bulk-handling port premises.
Chapple for some notice of the question.
(1) The mining industry has been a vital part of
insulating our state from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was deemed an essential
service to safeguard jobs and the economic prosperity of the state.
(2) I have been
advised that the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation is not aware
of any light detection and ranging equipment operating in Port Hedland at this
time.
(3)–(5) The
Department of Water and Environmental Regulation regulates dust emissions from
port operations under the Environmental Protection Act 1986. I am advised that
although LiDAR can be useful in identifying
sources and pathways of dust in Port Hedland, it has some limitations and is
only one of a number of means of identifying emission sources. All
licensed port operations in Port Hedland are required to operate a network of
air quality monitors around the perimeter of their premises to monitor and
respond to elevated dust levels. Licensees are also subject to a range of other
dust monitoring and mitigation requirements as part of licence conditions. The
Department of Water and Environmental Regulation is continuing to implement the government-endorsed recommendations of the
Port Hedland Dust Management Taskforce. This includes taking control of the
Port Hedland ambient air quality monitoring network and developing and
implementing dust management guidelines for bulk-handling port premises.
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