❓ A parliamentary question addresses air quality concerns in Newman, highlighting exceedances of air quality targets, the abandonment of aligning with national standards, and potential health impacts from iron ore dust. The government's response outlines the basis for current standards and defers a health impact study to the Minister for Health.
AnsweredQoN 266Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
AIR QUALITY — NEWMAN
266. Hon Dr BRAD PETTITT to the parliamentary secretary representing the
Minister for Environment:
I refer to last week's ABC
report that revealed that air quality targets in Newman had been exceeded 171
times since 2013, with two local BHP mines
identified as the dominant source of dust by the Department of Water and Environmental
Regulation's own review. I also refer to the freedom of information
documents that show DWER intended to align Newman's air quality target
with national standards, but later abandoned this plan after BHP contested.
(1) Why is the
state government not enforcing air quality standards in line with the national
environment protection measures in relation to dust in Newman?
(2) Will the
state government commit to commencing a study of the potential health impacts
that iron ore dust pollution may have on local residents?
(3) What is the
state government's response to the concerns of the 82 per cent of
Newman residents who say they have experienced adverse health impacts due to
dust and want national air pollution standards applied in Newman?
266. Hon Dr BRAD PETTITT to the parliamentary secretary representing the
Minister for Environment:
I refer to last week's ABC
report that revealed that air quality targets in Newman had been exceeded 171
times since 2013, with two local BHP mines
identified as the dominant source of dust by the Department of Water and Environmental
Regulation's own review. I also refer to the freedom of information
documents that show DWER intended to align Newman's air quality target
with national standards, but later abandoned this plan after BHP contested.
(1) Why is the
state government not enforcing air quality standards in line with the national
environment protection measures in relation to dust in Newman?
(2) Will the
state government commit to commencing a study of the potential health impacts
that iron ore dust pollution may have on local residents?
(3) What is the
state government's response to the concerns of the 82 per cent of
Newman residents who say they have experienced adverse health impacts due to
dust and want national air pollution standards applied in Newman?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. On behalf of the Minister for Environment I provide
the following answer.
(1) The
Department of Water and Environmental Regulation's reviews took into
account advice from the Department of Health on appropriate health standards.
The Department of Health supports the application of an interim air guideline
value of 70 milligrams—I think it is milligrams—per cubic metre
in Newman. The member might just want to check that I have the right measure.
(2) This is a matter for the
Minister for Health and the Department of Health to respond to.
(3) The
Department of Water and Environmental Regulation considered the survey and
advice from the Department of Health in its review of dust risks in Newman. The
amended licences require improved dust controls and monitoring to be
implemented by BHP to reduce dust.
some notice of the question. On behalf of the Minister for Environment I provide
the following answer.
(1) The
Department of Water and Environmental Regulation's reviews took into
account advice from the Department of Health on appropriate health standards.
The Department of Health supports the application of an interim air guideline
value of 70 milligrams—I think it is milligrams—per cubic metre
in Newman. The member might just want to check that I have the right measure.
(2) This is a matter for the
Minister for Health and the Department of Health to respond to.
(3) The
Department of Water and Environmental Regulation considered the survey and
advice from the Department of Health in its review of dust risks in Newman. The
amended licences require improved dust controls and monitoring to be
implemented by BHP to reduce dust.
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