A number of community leaders in Port Hedland fear a new push by BHP Billiton to increase the port's export tonnage will create dust levels so bad the Pilbara town could be ruined.
BHP has made an application to the Department of Environment Regulation (DER) to expand the Pilbara town's export capacity from 270 to 290 megatonnes per annum.
The application was put on hold in February to allow WA's environmental watchdog to review the regulation of dust pollution in Port Hedland - and while that's underway BHP has now submitted a new application to increase throughput to 275 mtpa as part of the process.
Local Dust control advocate Dr Con Berbatis is accusing BHP of gaming the system and ignoring community concerns.
"I oppose the applicant's attempts to work around the regulatory system," he said.
"Both the Port Authority and BHP need to be socially responsible and finally fix the problem of dust from their port operations???it is simple, they need to fix up, pay up and clean up."
A report from the Port Hedland Dust Management Taskforce leaked to the ABC in 2016 revealed dust levels in the town were so dangerous WA's government was urged to ban any new housing, aged care and childcare facilities in the West End.???
Port Hedland's docks are a key resource export terminal for WA's economy with cargo ships loading up with iron ore from stockpiles at the state of the art facility where BHP has several crucial facilities.
Recent images taken using LiDAR technology and supplied to WAtoday by Ecotech, an international environmental monitoring company, show dust levels at the port peaking at 20 times the national air quality standard.
The LiDAR technology is in its infancy and the DER has said it is "not intended to be used as a basis for enforcement action, rather as a tool to inform decision making under Part V of the Environmental Protection Act 1986."
However, President of the Port Hedland Progress Association Jan Ford said the images highlighted just how much of a concern dust plumes from the port were for the town - especially now there were multiple applications to increase its export throughput in play.
"They (BHP) need to fix up the mess they have caused in the community, pay compensation to affected businesses and residents, and clean up their processes at the Port," she said.
"I am pro-mining and pro-growth, but this situation is actually stifling more growth, more jobs and more opportunities; it needs to fixed and then we can all move forwards together."
Responding to the allegations, a BHP Billiton spokesperson said the company's Port Hedland operations continued to meet the regulatory standards set by the state government.
"Modelling undertaken in support of our 275mtpa licence application shows we can continue to meet our regulatory targets with no increase in dust levels," the spokesperson said.
"The fact is dust control at the port is improving and will continue to improve.
"At the same time community, industry and government are working together to ensure this vital economic asset - not just for Port Hedland but for all of WA - continues to grow and prosper and provide jobs and economic opportunity for Port Hedland and the whole state."
Community leaders are urging Port Hedland locals to make submissions to the DER on BHP's new throughput application by the closing date of 26 April 2017.
