Mid West Port Authority to install DustTamer fence after docked boats covered in iron ore dust at wharf

The owner of an aluminium lobster vessel docked along Fisherman’s Wharf claims daily iron ore dust is deteriorating his boat, calling on the Midwest Port Authority to take action. Iron ore spillage is an ongoing issue throughout the Mid West, with many allegations of rocks flying from trucks and cracking windscreens of oncoming vehicles. The fishing industry is also dealing with iron ore dust layering their vessels from the nearby port operations. After ongoing complaints the MWPA will this year install a 90m DustTamer fence along Marine Terrace to minimise wind impacts. Rock lobster fisherman Frank Facchini said iron ore dust constantly travelled on to docked boats — including his vessel named Spellbound — and it cost fishermen valuable time and resources. “We’re cleaning our boats, we’re spending money on our boats and nothing ever gets done about it,” he said. “The promises have always been out there, but they never seem to deliver.” Mr Facchini said he had recently forked out thousands to restore his fishing vessel — which supplies rock lobster to local businesses — and it was disheartening to see the boat covered in orange dust the next day. “I’ve spent $50,000 on this boat getting it back to brand new and within 12 hours it’s covered in iron ore dust. The aluminium gets eaten by the iron ore and and it tarnishes the paint,” he said. Mr Facchini said he understood WA was the world’s largest iron ore supplier, but the fishing industry was also important and being affected by the dust in the air. “I know it’s big money, but we have a livelihood too. To look after our boats and maintain them — it’s heart breaking to see everything the way it is,” he said. “From yesterday until today it just seems to be covered, it just swirls around the harbour.” MWPA CEO Damian Tully said he acknowledged there had been multiple dust complaints around the harbour and projects were underway to limit the movement of dust around the port. “The frustration is there at the moment which is why we are trying to reduce it. I acknowledge it is an issue for the fishing harbour,” he said. Mr Tully said the MWPA held a meeting with those affected and sought out projects to be carried out over the course of this year. This includes erecting a DustTamer fence, the first of its kind in Australia, which will be designed to withstand wind speeds over 180km/h and minimise wind impacts with balanced air pressure on either side of the fence. “In the next month or two we will have a DustTamer fence to change the profile of the wind. We are hoping that will be installed in October,” Mr Tully said. “There will be a fogging system to help dust stay in the holds. We are hoping to have that activated in the next few months.” Mr Tully said efforts to reduce iron ore spillage was a joint venture between trucking companies and the port, and customers were to uphold a certain standard. “Dust changes depending on the products coming into the port. Historic photos in previous years prove dust has been an issue in the past,” he said. “We are concerned and we do have a large amount of people working on this issue, we’re committed to finding a solution that works for everyone.” MWPA said the fence would be effective around stockpiles to prevent dust lift-off of particles from the piles and was proven to be effective around the world and at other major ports.