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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-06-18 Daily Xml
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ONESTEEL WHYALLA

The Hon. L.R. BREUER (Giles) (15:43): I am not sure what the member for Schubert is talking about there with The Advertiser. I keep hearing different stories from different members about what is happening in their areas, and I think it is probably something we as country members need to get together and have a look at. I don't know what sort of games are going on there, but there seems to be a proposal for a lack of service for us in country regions. I am on your side, member for Schubert. I am not having a go at you, but I am not sure what the story is there.

Mr Venning: No Advertisers.

The Hon. L.R. BREUER: My story is different. I don't know what's happening in Whyalla, but I'm checking it out. I was very pleased to see recent announcements by OneSteel that they are doing a $3 million upgrade of the gas cleaning unit in the BOS plant in the Whyalla steelworks. The BOS is actually the steelmaking plant in the steelworks.

They have upgraded all three precipitators since 2008, removing dust particles. These dust particles frighten people; however, they are mainly iron oxide and lime. I believe they are a nuisance factor more than a health factor, but they are a problem. The work that they are doing currently follows on from the amazing effort by OneSteel in getting rid of the red dust in Whyalla. Project Magnet, in 2007, changed their primary feedstock from the mines to a slurry, which came in an underground pipe from the mining areas outside of Whyalla to the Whyalla steelworks. It has also extended the life of the Whyalla steelworks from 2016 to 2027.

Now, my town is no longer red, our pigeons are now grey, our seagulls are white, not pink, and there has been an amazing change in the town. You can actually see the plants growing, particularly in the beach area—the Hummock Hill area—where the ore was unloaded. You can really see the difference in the town.

It was a very honourable investment by OneSteel because, for many, many years, BHP, who were then the employer, actually denied there was a red dust problem. When we said, 'What are we going to do about the red dust?' they answered, 'What red dust?' OneSteel came in. They decided—after some canvassing, I must admit, by the community—to go ahead and clean up the environment, and now, six years later, we can really see the results. So I do congratulate them for what they have done.

However, that is not to say all our problems are fixed in the area, because I am now hearing about a particular problem with the fugitive dust from the Iron Duke mine, which is south of Whyalla. I have actually seen this from the road. I have been down in that area and I know it was a particularly bad, windy day, but there were huge dust clouds, of which I have some photos.

My understanding is that it is actually affecting the properties in that area around the Iron Duke mine. I have certainly had complaints from Mr Bronte Plane, who is very vocal about this, and also the Turnbull family, who manage two or three large station properties in the area. I will be meeting with them in the very near future to talk to them about this. I have spoken to the EPA regarding this, with the understanding that I will bring them some more information when it is available. I believe DMITRE visited last week to look at the area.

The initial proposals came out in a very big 389-page document—the development proposal for the Iron Duke and Iron Duchess mines—which was done in May 2011. Those initial proposals were to control that dust, including minimising the road haulage, optimising dust suppression by using recycled water and also minimising handling and high winds.

I grew up with red dust in Whyalla. I know the problems and I know the amenity issues it creates, so I am certainly hoping we can resolve this. I hope that Arrium and OneSteel will look at the issue and we can get a satisfactory conclusion for all. People in industrial mining towns should not, in this century, have to put up with that sort of pollution and the sort of environmental hazards that we are seeing. My mother's mentality was that Whyalla was an industrial town and we should put up with it—that is not the case anymore.

I can certainly see the problems that Port Pirie have had with their lead problems. This goes back many years. I remember that, 30 years ago, a boss moved over from Port Pirie to Whyalla because he was concerned about the impact of the lead on his young children. It is still happening. Mount Isa, I understand, this week has reported similar problems. The mining boom has been essential for our region. It brings its problems; make sure we clean it up.

Time expired.

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