Esperance Port responds to increased dust concerns
The Port of Esperance has responded to community concerns over increased woodchip dust levels emitted from the facility from February 21 to 24.
Chief executive officer Steve Lewis said Southern Ports were monitoring the levels of respirable dust during loading and the results indicated there was no health risk.
"While there is no health risk, we appreciate the inconvenience this nuisance dust has caused to our nearby community," he said.
Southern Ports has since been working with the product owner and loader to ensure the Port's expectations and requirements on dust controls were implemented.
Improvement actions have included wetting down the berth regularly, setting up shrouding and water sprays around transfer chutes and setting up a wet down system on the unloader.
Southern Ports said the woodchip dust had noticeably decreased since the measures were introduced and it would continue to closely monitor the situation.