Mid West Port Authority’s new dust monitoring system to show how much of an issue the dust has become

The Mid West Port Authority installed a new dust monitoring system at Geraldton port two weeks ago in order to have better data of the air quality that many surrounding businesses and boat owners have complained about. The monitor was set up directly next to the train tracks at Horrie and Steve’s Slipway site and owner Dean Parker said having it on the western end would show better results. “Hopefully this will give some paper evidence of the visual evidence we see daily of their pollution,” he said. “Because the mining companies and environmentalists like to see the numbers.” Evidence from the monitors will allow the port to take action and show the mining companies what the real issue with the trains dust emission are. MWPA has been working to resolve the issue after public outcry, with measures including a 90m DustTamer fence that was recently installed. “The recently installed DustTamer fence is one of a number of port-wide initiatives to reduce dust emissions,” MWPA CEO Damian Tully said. “Ongoing monitoring will determine its effectiveness, however, it is still too early for the data to definitively provide this information at this time.” The port already have multiple permanent monitors installed around the site but many locals have complained that they are not in the areas of concern and are not getting the best readings. “The port say when they are exceeding their dust emissions, it is ‘sometimes’ when they aren’t loading vessels,” Mr Parker said. “Why are there not more, if any, monitoring stations around the rail?”