The state government has suspended lead exports through Geraldton Port as a precautionary measure after monitoring showed one incident of lead levels in excess of the port's environmental licence limit.
The state government has suspended lead exports through Geraldton Port as a precautionary measure after monitoring showed one incident of lead levels in excess of the port's environmental licence limit.
The lead was produced by mining company MMG, which operates the Golden Grove mine inland from Geraldton, near Mt Magnet.
The decision follows major controversy over lead exports through the port of Esperance, which were associated with a range of health issues in that community.
Golden Griove produces lead as a by-product of its zinc, copper and gold mining operations.
The lead is part of a previous metal concentrate, with four such shipments passing through the port each year.
An MMG spokesman said it produced lead sulphide, which was different to the lead carbonate produced by Magellan Metals.
Magellan now exports its lead through the port of Fremantle, following the controversy at Esperance.
Transport Minister Troy Buswell said today there would be no further shipments of lead through the port until the State Government was satisfied that there was no health risk to residents and that improved monitoring and reporting systems had been implemented.
"The State Government's primary concern is for the health of the people of Geraldton and, as such, the Department of Health will carry out further testing early in January to compare against data previously collected in 2007," Mr Buswell said.
"While I am assured the unacceptable lead sulphide reading during a 24-hour period on October 22 and October 23 was an isolated case caused by high wind, the State Government is not prepared for lead shipments to recommence until it can assure Geraldton residents that their health is not at risk.
"I am advised the volumes of lead being shipped are not deemed to be large and that there are only four shipments per year. Each of the shipments carries approximately 5,000 tonnes of Heavy Precious Metal, comprising 30-40 per cent lead.
"While I don't believe there is cause for panic or alarm, we are taking a cautious approach."
The Minister said he was informed this week that one result from the October 22 and October 23 monitoring at the port showed a level of lead of 4.2µg/m³ as total suspended particles, which is in excess of the port's licence limit of 0.5 µg/m³. This recording was taken at one of the port's three monitoring stations.
"Since learning of the results the Geraldton Port Authority (GPA) and the company involved, MMG, met with the Department of Environment and Conservation and agreed to implement a range of corrective actions, including the suspension of lead shipments, to prevent a repeat of this occurrence," he said.
"Lead concentrate exports will only recommence once the Government is satisfied the risk of further breaches of environmental guidelines have been mitigated through the implementation of better procedures and structural improvement."
A 2007 Department of Environment and Conservation investigation into the GPA's handling of metal concentrate confirmed compliance with the required standards. The Department of Health also tested for lead in the area in 2007 and did not identify any risks to humans or the environment.
