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Lead is still no-go in Freo, says Mayor

MAYOR Peter Tagliaferri says the City of Fremantle will remain opposed to lead exports through the port, after Magellan Metals announced it had applied to the Environmental Protection Authority to progress the proposal.

“If lead is to be exported out of WA it needs to be done in an appropriate manner,” Mayor Tagliaferri said.

“Fremantle is simply not the place, given it has a massive built environment and about 400,000 people in the surrounding catchment area.

“No matter how many reassurances Magellan gives about changes in procedure and safety protocols, the parliamentary inquiry into the lead contamination at Esperance was damning to the extreme.

“It simply highlighted why we’ve been so opposed to lead through the port.”

The inquiry found that Magellan Metals and three government departments failed to properly exercise their responsibilities and contributed to the lead pollution in Esperance.

Under the Fremantle proposal, Magellan has applied to the EPA to transport lead concentrate inside sealed bulk bags within shipping containers through the port.

Mayor Tagliaferri said despite assurances of tighter controls, including waterproof and airtight containers, along with independent auditing of shipping procedures, the mood of the people in Fremantle remained strongly opposed to the idea.

“Like Esperance, tourism is a major drawcard for Fremantle and it would be foolish to put that industry at risk,” he said.

“The proposal for 125 to 150 containers a week is a massive amount and it would have a significant impact on the freight network in Fremantle.

“And we’re not convinced that independent auditing would give the community the high level of protection that it demands.”

Mayor Tagliaferri said the city would remain resolute in its opposition to having lead shipped through Fremantle Port.

“Moving their operations to an even more populated area where you would put even more people at risk has always seemed like a very backwards way of going about things,” he said.

“I don’t think there is any way you can put a price on public health when it comes to matters such as these.

“Sealed containers can become unsealed – all it takes is just one – and that’s the last thing you’d want in a densely-populated area.”