Port Adelaide Enfield Council launches legal action against Semaphore Container Services over grain dust

A COMMUNITY campaign to reduce the health risks of grain dust from an Osborne export company is heading to court following claims the situation is “worse than ever before”.

• Grain exporter say expansion will create less dust
• Residents claim dust is harming their health

A COMMUNITY campaign to reduce the health risks of grain dust from an Osborne export company is heading to court following claims the situation is “worse than ever before”.

Port Adelaide Enfield Council last month launched legal action against Semaphore Container Services, arguing it had breached its development approval by operating after its 10pm curfew and failing to minimise dust.

A conciliation hearing has been scheduled in the Environment Resources and Development Court on Wednesday, January 17.

Mayor Gary Johanson said council staff’s previous meetings with the company had failed to resolve the issue.

“The health and safety of our residents is paramount to the City of Port Adelaide Enfield, and we will do all that we can to ensure that businesses and residents are protected,” Mr Johanson said.

Residents claim they are suffering respiratory problems as a result of grain dust from the Mersey Rd North plant.

They say at least two children living nearby have been admitted to hospital because of the effects from the dust, and several adults have been diagnosed with asthma for the first time since the works began operating in December 2015.

The company installed fogging machines in August to reduce dust, following a request by the Environmental Protection Authority. However, neighbours said the measure had done little to stop their homes being blanketed in dust.

Sammy Aloisi, who lives within 60 metres of the plant, said he had “had a gutful” of dealing with “bucket loads of grain” when the business was in operation.

“It’s got to the point now where enough is enough,” Mr Aloisi said.

“I’ve never seen it (grain dust) this thick before in the gutters, it is worse than ever before.”

Neighbour Hayley Forde said in the past year she had developed asthma for the first time in her life.

“Luckily it hasn’t affected my daughter, but our neighbours sold their house because of it,” Mrs Forde said.

The EPA has also issued a protection order requiring Semaphore Container Services to develop a plan with actions and time frames to effectively manage the dust, which the company is appealing in the Environment, Resources and Development Court. Semaphore Container Services did not respond to questions.