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Back Vessels Information for vessels loading at Port Waratah, including the Coal Terminals Information Handbook, key services and other resources. Contractors Information and access for our contractors, including the Contractor Portal and Contractor Management System. Customers Information and access for our customers, including the Services Portal and tour bookings. Employees Information and access to key services and applications for our employees.
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environment

Air quality

The quality of the air in our communities is of the highest priority; we understand dust is one of the key environmental concerns for our neighbouring communities. Port Waratah goes to great lengths to minimise dust throughout our operations, from coal receival to shiploading.

Air quality Noise Water Footprint Climate Compliance

Monitoring dust levels and acting responsibly is critical to our operations. Our control techniques, processes and systems are world class, designed to minimise the potential for dust creation, and where possible, eliminate negative impacts. Port Waratah is committed to delaying, or if required, ceasing operations in adverse conditions.

Intelligent Dust Management System (IDMS)

The IDMS utilises data from an onsite weather station, as well as information provided by the Bureau of Meteorology to continually assess stockpile surface moisture levels & dust risk both in the current conditions and forecast future state. 

The information is utilised by a specialised evapotranspiration algorithm, which will automatically initiate stockyard water sprays as required to prevent dust lift-off, stopping dust at the source. The water sprays are industrial in scale and are able to treat the entire surface of our stockpiles across the entire yard.

Additional spray cycles may also be triggered in increased dust-risk conditions, such as high wind speed and/or temperatures. Water sprays are also used throughout all conveyor transfer operations, from train unloading to shiploading.

Real-Time Dust Monitors (RTDM)

We use a network of real time dust monitors within site boundaries to report onsite dust concentration measurements. The information is live and monitored by our operations personnel who receive notification via our SCADA system of any trending elevation in dust levels.

The Newcastle Local Air Quality Monitoring Network provides real time updates about air quality with both high-level summaries and detailed information. This network is part of the NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) local area network NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) real-time local air quality monitoring network. The predicted air quality rating is published daily in the weather section of the Newcastle Herald.

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Operational dust management practices

Operational dust management practices include activating additional conveyor sprays during transfers, operation of mobile water carts, wetting down hardstand areas, the use of mobile spray systems, manual hosing, coal spraying, housekeeping and routine site cleaning. To reduce dust generation, we incorporate soft-flow chutes, minimal drop heights, conveyor belt cleaning systems and enclosed facilities wherever possible, including receival stations, coal transfer points and conveyors.

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How does Port Waratah manage dust?

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NSW Government Lower Hunter Air Quality Data

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NSW Government Seasonal Lower Hunter and Central Coast Air Quality Monitoring Reports

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NSW Government Air Quality Subscription Alerts

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Newcastle Local Air Quality Monitoring Network

Independently managed by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment.

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