SA Health warns Port residents not to drink rainwater amid cement dust investigation

Rainwater tanks in Port Adelaide are off limits, SA Health has warned, but locals fear that’s not the only threat a local factory is presenting.

Adbri’s Birkenhead cement factory has sat on the Port River since 1913, but residents have butted heads with the company over the years due to health fears. Picture: Supplied

SA Health has warned Port Adelaide residents living near a cement factory against drinking from rainwater tanks, following a major event in May that left homes covered in dust.

The spokeswoman issued the warning during a community meeting at Port Adelaide Town Hall last Monday attended by more than 70 northwest residents, who demanded Adbri’s Birkenhead factory improve cement dust monitoring.

However, the spokeswoman said there was no conclusive evidence to link emission levels with heightened disease risk.

At the meeting, several residents reported persistent coughing and eye irritation since moving to Birkenhead and nearby areas, allegedly from dust and plastic fumes.

Lifelong Birkenhead resident Vicki Easom, 63, was diagnosed with bronchitis five years ago after already beating cancer.

Lauren Francis, Sam Jackson and Vicki Easom are among dozens of residents who turned out to a town-hall meeting with Adbri concerning its Birkenhead factory, pictured in the background. Picture: Matt Loxton

Having never smoked, she said more research is needed into links between heavy industry and disease at the Port.

“You get this strong, unpleasant smell coming through all the time … it’s just something we have to live with,” she said.

Largs Bay mother Lauren Francis, 42, said despite Adbri paying for cleaning, she had her entire solar system and two cars written off by damage assessors.

“It was the same sort of damage – the glass and the paintwork were ‘chemically etched’,” she said.

“It’s left us out of pocket by thousands, and with the cost of living at the moment, we didn't really need that.”

Emissions from Adbri's Birkenhead cement factory in May left cars, furniture and vegetable patches in nearby homes covered in cement dust. Picture: Supplied

Solar panels in Birkenhead were left covered in dust following the May event. Picture: Supplied

An Adbri spokeswoman apologised for the May incident, saying clinker dust escaped during maintenance work.

She said since then, the company had hired a claims assessor, improved workers’ training and updated camera monitoring.

Adbri also has approval to burn 32 tonnes of refuse-derived fuel every hour, including up to 20 per cent plastic, but the spokeswoman said the high temperatures “fully combust any problematic compounds”.

The burnt fuel has diverted 2.2 million tonnes of waste from landfill.

Birkenhead landscaper Sam Jackson said despite damage to his own car, he was more concerned about the health risks.

“What happened in May was bad, but all it takes is for a couple of weeks of not cleaning the windows to not be able to see through them,” the 29-year-old said.

“I’m certainly not going to bring up my kids here.

“You’re not going to die in a year or two years, but if you’re breathing it in for your entire life, you want to know what it’s doing to your body.”

Mr Jackson said the amount of dust produced by the factory made it impossible to see through the windows if not cleaned regularly. Picture: Supplied

Greens MLC and Port Adelaide resident Tammy Franks said she was drafting planning laws that would better regulate emissions-heavy industries in residential areas.

“The reality is that Adbri would not be in its current location if it was being built today,” she said.

A state government spokesman said Adbri had been instructed to consult with locals and improve dust control measures.

He also said Adbri had dust monitors both on-site and in the community but the Environmental Protection Agency would further test the factory’s emissions content.

Acting chief public health officer Chris Lease said the May event did not exceed 24-hour guidelines, which “suggests there is a low risk to the general community”.