Trial shipment of lead from Geraldton approved

The state government has lifted the suspension on lead exports from the Port of Geraldton to allow a trial shipment, after a review of operations following a lead scare in December last year.

Transport Minister Troy Buswell suspended exports 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 exports high precious metals (HPM) containing 30-40 per cent lead sulphide from the Golden Grove mine inland from Geraldton, near Mt Magnet.

Mr Buswell today said the trial shipment was approved following the results of health testing, improvements to operations, infrastructure and monitoring at the port, and the reassessment of targets in the port’s licence conditions.

“While I was provided initial advice that the exceedence posed no threat to health, the decision to suspend the trade of this product was made on the basis that the state government’s primary concern in this instance was for the health of the people of Geraldton,” he said.

“Even once we received confirmation that the community’s health had not been put at risk, I was not prepared for lead shipments to recommence until we could be satisfied the risk of further breaches of environmental guidelines were mitigated through the implementation of better procedures and structural improvement.

“I am now satisfied that several improvements have been undertaken to enable the trial, including the tightening of wind restrictions, the introduction of loading limits and the purchase of new compliance equipment.”

The trial shipment is subject to a number of conditions, Mr Buswell said, including:

• Strict adherence with Geraldton Port’s amended loading procedures
• Establishment of a monthly data analysis meeting between the Geraldton Port Authority (GPA) and the company involved, MMG, to monitor results
• 24/7 supervision of all HPM ship loading operations by an appropriately experienced MMG representative.

Mr Buswell said a second trial would only be approved if the first trial was successful.

Bulk loading of HPM would only be approved after acceptable results are achieved in the first two shipments and would be subject to ongoing monitoring and performance outcomes.