DWER wants ‘proactive’ dust suppression at ‘high’ risk Greenbushes lithium mine

Potential risks posed by dust from the massive Greenbushes lithium operation are “high”, but the State Government’s regulator believes it can be managed.

WA’s Department of Water and Environmental Regulation has approved the use of dust suppressant sprinklers and surface stabilisers on crushed lithium-bearing rocks at Greenbushes’ third processing plant, which was commissioned last week.

DWER said the South West mine’s dust presents a “high” potential risk to the environment and public health.

The dust suppression infrastructure and its “proactive application” are “sufficient” to manage the risk, according to DWER.

“To ensure consistency of control, the dust control specification of the works approval has been updated to require proactive application of dust suppression when visible dust is observed,” the regulator stated.

But the new controls would not be able to remove the possibility of “major” consequences from Greenbushes’ dust emissions.

“The delegated officer considers that proposed changes to dust control are unlikely to significantly alter the risk associated with dust emissions from the operation of this infrastructure,” DWER stated.

The Talison Lithium joint venture between South Perth-based IGO, China’s Tianqi and the United States’ Albemarle owns Greenbushes.

Talison faces mounting pressure from locals in the nearby namesake town over the mine’s dust pollution.

Residents have claimed plants, houses and even the town’s primary school are regularly covered in mine dust.

Talison has grown Greenbushes’ footprint in recent years.

Talison chief executive Rob Telford in April said his joint venture had “clearly underestimated” dust impacts from the most recent expansion.

“We deeply regret the impacts felt by members of the Greenbushes community,” Mr Telford said at the time.

“I am confident we can make a difference going forward.”

Greenbushes was originally a tin mine in the 1800s before lithium mining started in the 1980s. It is WA’s most profitable lithium operation.