LOCALS for Esperance Development (LED) group have sought assurances from nickel companies and Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) that there will be zero nickel dust emissions from the Esperance Port Authority (EPA) and along the transport corridor.

LED spokesperson, Michelle Crisp, said that she felt that this was a “realistic expectation”.

She said nickel ceiling dust levels in houses near the port were returning levels up to 200 times higher than those found in suburban houses in Sydney.

The nickel companies have been working towards a resolution to the problem, but the community has not had the opportunity to be involved in these discussions, nor to view the proposals submitted to the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure.

Mrs Crisp said it is known that the nickel companies are considering continued bulk handling of the product. LED is not convinced that planned improvements in the bulk handling systems will guarantee the community will be protected.

“There is already a long track record of significant lead, nickel and iron ore dust escaping with bulk handling which has covered many hundreds of houses and entered the environment,” Mrs Crisp said.

“The people of Esperance have previously been told that no dust would escape, but we are now being told that improvements will ensure that dust will not escape in the future.

“Unfortunately you can only judge these promises with hindsight. If the experts and authorities are so confident in these improvements then they should be happy to back these up and guarantee that handling of the product would cease immediately when dust at any level is detected outside the Esperance Port Authority boundary.

“They should also be prepared implement a system allowing the Department of Environment and Conservation to impose significant fines if they fail to keep their promise and dust is detected outside the port boundary.

“We do not want this contamination to continue.

“The Esperance people are the ones who will bear the brunt of the decisions of the nickel companies and government departments and we feel we should be able to enter into frank and open discussions to ensure the community is protected from further pollutants.

A mutually beneficial solution should be achievable in the short term but we do not want to see this process extended any longer than it has to.”