• Port Hedland Dust Management Taskforce report released for public comment
• Community consultations on dust management and the future of the marina development to be held in early September

The McGowan Government has today released a report into managing dust issues in Port Hedland, to be formally considered after public submissions have been received.
 
The Port Hedland Dust Management Taskforce report recommends a Special Control Area over the West End of Port Hedland, with the aim of preventing further population growth west of Taplin Street, and limiting sensitive land uses between Taplin and McGregor streets.
 
It also recommends that exporters continue to reduce dust emissions at the port and be subject to more intense risk-based regulation, as well as the identification and mitigation of other dust sources in the town.
 
The report follows the release of the Department of Health's Health Risk Assessment in 2016, which found sufficient evidence of health effects from dust to warrant dust management controls and land-use planning to reduce exposure.
 
Port Hedland residents, organisations and other interested parties are invited to submit their views on the report and its recommendations by October 6, 2017.
 
Government agencies will host an open day in Port Hedland on September 1, 2017, to provide further information to the local community.
 
The report will also feed into a deliberative democracy forum on the future of the funding committed to the Port Hedland marina development, led by Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan in Port Hedland next month.

The report, fact sheets, and contact information for submissions are available here.
 
Comments attributed to Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
 
"The recommendations of this report will have a major impact on the future of Port Hedland and our Government will work with local residents and businesses to achieve the best possible outcome for the community, acknowledging that iron ore exports underpin the economic prosperity of the town.
 
"The report also has a bearing on the future of the marina development. We have made clear that the $112 million State Government commitment to the project will remain allocated to Hedland, however we are open to considering redirection to other projects.
 
"The State Government will provide a formal response to this report based on public submissions received and the outcomes of our deliberative democracy forum."