Summary: The Environmental Protection Authority EPA has released its advice to the Minister for Environment on a proposal by the Port Hedland Port Authority to construct and operate a new shipping berth and ore stockpile facility located at Utah Point on Finucane Island at Port Hedland. Also released and arising from the EPA's assessment of the Utah Point proposal is EPA Bulletin 2 on Dust and Noise in Port Hedland.
Release Date: 12 January 2009
Details: The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has released its advice to the Minister for Environment on a proposal by the Port Hedland Port Authority to construct and operate a new shipping berth and ore stockpile facility located at Utah Point on Finucane Island at Port Hedland.
Also released and arising from the EPA’s assessment of the Utah Point proposal is EPA Bulletin 2 on Dust and Noise in Port Hedland.
In recommending approval of the Port Hedland Port Authority’s proposal, EPA Chairman Dr Paul Vogel said that removing ore stockpiles from the west end of Port Hedland would decrease local dust and noise impacts, including rerouting road trains from urban streets.
‘However, despite some local improvement in air quality and reduction in noise levels, the proposal would not result in improvements in the overall area of Port Hedland where dust and noise impacts are already of concern,’ he said.
‘The health effects of iron ore dust at the levels expected in Port Hedland may be greater than previously thought and all residential areas may be affected.’
In the ‘Other Advice’ section of the EPA Report and in EPA Bulletin 2, the EPA has called for a coordinated government and industry approach to the development and execution of an integrated government and industry strategy, with explicit emission and exposure reduction strategies for dust and noise in Port Hedland.
‘This issue needs to be addressed as a matter of high priority and will require leadership, coordination and resolve at a level greater than has been evident hitherto,’ Dr Vogel said.
The EPA has recommended that the Minister for Environment considers the matters raised in ‘Other Advice’ with the Ministers for Planning, Transport and State Development.
EPA Report 1311 and Bulletin 2 are available at www.epa.wa.gov.au. There is a two week public appeal period on the EPA report.
Media contact: Lisa Parkin, 6467 5415
Status: Final
Appeals close