Dumping Grounds

A community study in Esperance (28/6/08), has found lead levels in birds sampled to be the highest recorded anywhere in the world. One bird had 750mg per kilo of lead in it's feathers, a level described by co-author Dr Dunlop as "mineable grade" The alarming levels demonstrated that lead levels in the port town were remaining in the environment, and proving difficult to remove.

Exports of lead carbonate through the town's port were stopped in March last year,after the death of an estimated 4,000 birds linked to acute lead poisoning.

The community-based monitoring program collected feather samples from 50 birds to analyse for lead and nickel contamination, seven months after the export of lead ceased. The sampling showed the nickel on their feathers was 10 times that of background levels.

In 1993 The Esperance community was the first to establish A World's Best Practice dust free Port and were proud of their achievements. Since then, these benchmark environment standards for dust control have continually been eroded by both Liberal and Labor governments. With the advanced understanding of pollution, it's amazing they have permitted the continued decline in environmental standards and monitoring.

Fremantle will be exporting lead next, seeing as this government have given "Magellan" the green light. Just how well will the people be protected there, or are we to see Esperance all over again?

The next question will be once Fremantle Outer Harbour is complete, does that mean Kwinana will be next for lead export? Particularly as most things get dumped there even when communities say NO.

More stringent monitoring laws are needed, companies should have it in their licenses, they are to monitor for all toxic materials they emit.