Cleaning up lead and nickel contamination of the Esperance townsite

Between 2005 and 2007 lead carbonate mined near Wiluna north of Kalgoorlie was exported through the Port of Esperance. The material was handled in bulk, and this resulted in dust containing lead escaping during the unloading, storage and loading processes, which led to contamination of areas in and around the Esperance town site.

In December 2006 the Esperance community reported a large number of dead birds around the town. Subsequent testing showed the dead birds had high levels of lead in their bodies, and testing of rainwater tanks showed that many of those tanks had levels of lead and nickel exceeding Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

The Department of Health then carried out the largest blood lead survey ever conducted in Western Australia. Of those tested, 33 - many of whom were children - had blood lead levels in excess of the internationally recognised health guidelines for lead as published by the World Health Organisation, which is 10 micrograms per decilitre (10ug/dL). Blood lead levels in all children have since reduced to below 5 micrograms per decilitre (5ug/dL).

In April 2007 the State Government commissioned a parliamentary inquiry and report into the cause and extent of the lead contamination in Esperance. The inquiry sought submissions and conducted an extensive series of hearings that included government officers, board members and senior officers of the Port of Esperance, representatives of the mining industry, councillors and staff of the Shire of Esperance and members of the Esperance community. The report, including recommendations and findings, was tabled in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly in September 2007 and can be viewed on the WA Parliament website.

The Western Australian State Government is committed to cleaning up the Esperance townsite of lead and nickel contamination, including cleaning of homes - inside and out - and ceiling voids. This will be carried out comprehensively and systematically with sampling before and after cleaning to validate the cleaning process.

In late 2008 a steering committee for the cleanup project was established and includes Esperance community and business representatives, representatives of the Shire of Esperance, Port of Esperance and relevant State Government agencies such as the Department of Health, the Department of Environment and Conservation and the Department for Planning and Infrastructure.

The committee first met in December 2008 and the cleanup project is now underway. View minutes of the steering committee meetings on the News page.

In January 2009, a project director was appointed and an office established in Esperance to manage the clean up and recovery project.