Iron ore dust concerns remain in Geraldton after Mid West Port Authority installs DustTamer fence

The installation of a 90m-long fence last week to try control iron ore dust appears to have done little so far to solve the issues of businesses and fishers. Boat owners and businesses near the port have struggled with a constant build-up of iron ore dust from multiple delivery trains a day. Mid West Port Authority CEO Damian Tully said the DustTamer fence was one of several port-wide initiatives to reduce dust emissions. “Ongoing monitoring will determine its effectiveness, however it is still too early for the data to definitively provide this information at this time,” he said. Horrie & Steve’s Slipway owner Dean Parker said the fence was only a stop-gap solution and did little to help the rest of the port. “The big wind tamer fence, I believe, is only a small, isolated, Band-Aid attempt at fixing a larger widespread problem,” he said. A business owner who wished to remain anonymous said the iron ore dust was ageing cars, sheds and boats. “The iron ore dust gets in around your rubber seals, around your windows,” they said. “It seems to be we get brushed off a bit; the port’s more important, iron ore’s more important.” The owner of port business McBoats, Geoff McGowan, said while the port authority was trying to address the problem, it had become large issue for many. “It’s just another headache; you didn’t sign on to get that. When you build a wharf down there or you leased a pen, you didn’t think you were going to get covered in iron ore every single day of your life,” he said. Similar issues created by trucks coming through were resolved with covers, leaving many locals wondering why the same could not be done for the trains. “One of the things they could do is put moisture on the carriages when the trains are leaving … all the trucks have to be covered with it,” the anonymous business owner said. While the ports community have dealt with the issue the worst, the trains also travel around Geraldton to reach the docks. Mr Parker said the dust was causing “a more rapid deterioration and visual pollution and appearance” of buildings and other assets in the city, not just in the port precinct. He said it was having a “clear effect” on vegetation, creating an unsightly appearance for residents and tourists. “For a start the iron ore train carriages should be covered, like all trucks are required to be, CBH carriages are covered,” Mr Parker said.