Iron ore contamination investigation confirmed, DWER actively listening to complaints about black dust problem

Geraldton’s iron ore dust problem is under investigation by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation following complaints from aggrieved locals. Geraldton residents and business owners near the port have been complaining for almost six years about the health and environmental impacts of the black iron ore dust contamination. DWER has confirmed they are actively looking into the contamination, leaving residents waiting with bated breath. A DWER spokesperson said the department had received several dust-related complaints in Geraldton, which were subject to ongoing investigations. “An initial risk assessment was completed in December 2025, which identified the need for two separate investigations based on the characteristics of the reported dust and potential emission sources,” the spokesperson said. “The department is also liaising with the City of Greater Geraldton to better understand potential impacts on the local community.” The main mining company accused of the contamination by not covering their iron ore loads is Karara Mining, which had allegedly failed to actively acknowledge the dust problem. Dean Parker, owner of Horrie and Steve’s Marine, said he had become so “fed up” with the ongoing issue and lack of action, yet is still determined to see change. The suburb hit the hardest by the contamination is Beachlands, with residents complaining about constantly being covered in black iron ore dust. Beachlands resident, Ralf Mulks, said for everyone living in the suburb, washing down their cars and homes was a weekly activity to get rid of the black dust. “I put a complaint in two years ago and nothing happened. Then last year I scratched a sample of the dust from our house wall and sent it off to a lab to get a semi-quantitative X-Ray diffraction analysis done,” he said. “The sample determined that 28 per cent of the sample was magnetite, so I put in another complaint to DWER and this time they started an investigation.” At the time, Mr Mulks said DWER made clear the dust was more of a nuisance rather than a health problem. However, he said this was later backtracked when the case was upgraded in February this year to an environmental criminal case by DWER. The City of Greater Geraldton, the Mid West Ports Authority, DWER and Arc Infrastructure have all been involved with the advocacy group and ongoing issue. Arc Infrastructure, the rail infrastructure manager and access provider for the Geraldton railway, has been urged by aggrieved residents on multiple occasions to engage with Karara Mining about their open trailers. “Arc is exclusively responsible for the ‘below rail’ operations of the network and is not the owner or manager of trains or wagons,” an Arc Infrastructure spokesperson said. The city said they were very much aware of the dust issue plaguing Geraldton yet said it was under the jurisdiction of DWER to investigate. Mr Parker and Mr Mulks said they would continue to encourage residents to make formal complaints about the dust while waiting for a verdict from DWER. Karara Mining has not responded to requests for comment.