Toxic dust storm brews

WOODVALE residents have expressed concern about the toxicity of dust clouds coming from Bendigo Mining’s tailings dams in the area during yesterday’s high winds.Winds gusted at up to 50 kilometres an hour, whipping up clouds of dust and bringing down trees and branches throughout the area.Vanessa Richardson and other Woodvale residents said whenever strong winds blew, their properties were covered with dust containing salt, arsenic sulphate and other heavy metals.“We have complained time after time and little happens . . . all that happens is a band-aid approach instead of a resolution of our concerns.” Jeff Cummins from the Environment Protection Authority said the EPA had been monitoring the Bendigo Mining Woodvale site, and yesterday asked Bendigo Mining to apply a dust suppressant to their dry ponds to control dust. “We will continue to work with the local community and Bendigo Mining to ensure airborne dust is minimised.”Bendigo Mining managing director Rod Hanson said the company had been closely monitoring the site and apart from yesterday, dust had not been a problem.“We will be applying a dust suppressant to dry areas of the evaporation ponds today,” Mr Hansen said Ms Richardson said an independent report on the Woodvale site, completed several years ago, had included a recommendation that the ponds should not be allowed to dry out as a measure for dust control.“Residents in the area are also concerned that if Bendigo Mining were to cease operation there may not be sufficient funds in reserve to reinstate the site.”