A new partnership between BHP, Curtin University and Greening Australia will trial vegetation barriers to capture dust and improve air quality in the West End of Port Hedland, in an effort to minimise the environmental impacts caused throughout BHP’s operational activities.
Phase one of BHP’s Pilbara Air Quality Program, which involved the planting of around 80,000 seedlings, was recently completed, and an additional 80,000 seedlings are scheduled for phase two, which is expected to begin in a few months.
As the plants grow and develop over the years, they will create a dust barrier between BHP’s operations and the community.
BHP have partnered with Indigenous-owned and operated nursery, IBN Services in Port Hedland, to provide the specifically selected plants for the project.
IBN Services Manager, Evelyn Kroczek, said, “This is an important contract for our business. We’re very involved with the land and the country and we want to help look after it.”
Indigenous-owned landscaping company, Yurra, have also been contracted to manage ground works.
Yurra Manager, Justin Bryne, said, “We’ve worked with Greening Australia to formulate the design and look at the plant mixes and what we think will grow well.
“We’re also providing the local supervision as well as the project management.”
If these trials prove successful, vegetation barriers could be strategically used across the West End and adjacent to other BHP operations to capture dust from industry and natural sources and help improve overall air quality.
Featured image: Partnership between Yurra, IBN Services and BHP to trial vegetation dust barriers. Image: BHP.
