The Western Australian Government has adopted the Port Hedland Air Quality and Noise Management Plan for managing impacts from port operations on nearby residential and commercial areas.
The Plan sets goals and allocates responsibilities for managing the levels and impacts of dust and noise on people and property in Port Hedland.
The Plan was developed by the the Port Hedland Dust Management Taskforce which is chaired by the Department of State Development and reports to the Premier.
Representing the Premier as Parliamentary Secretary for State Development, Mr Bill Marmion, released the plan in Port Hedland on Tuesday 23 March 2010.
Port Hedland is a major Western Australian regional population centre and Port Hedland Port is one of the world’s largest iron export ports.
The growth and intesification of mining related land use has lead to residential areas directly adjacent to ore loading orperations and stockpiles which are significant sources of dust.
WA Health advised the taskforce on the toxicology and health effects of dust and recommeded measures that would protect the public from the impacts of high levels of dust.
The WA Department of Health is a key member of the taskforce that include representatives of:
- the Town of Port Hedland
- the Port Hedland Port Authority
- Iron Ore exporters including BHP Billiton Iron Ore , FMG and Hancock Iron Ore; and
- Government agencies including DSD, Planning, and Environment and Conservation.
Port Hedland Bulletin 2006 (PDF 427.86 KB)
Western Australian Department of Health - Impact of Dust on Port Hedland (PDF 81.65 KB)
Respiratory Hospitalisations in Port Hedland (PDF 1.32 MB)
Literature Review and Report on Potentail Health Impacts of Exposure to Crustal Material in Port Hedland (PDF 795.14 KB)
Port Hedland Air Quality and Noise Management Plan www.dsd.wa.gov.au (External link)
