Management
 

Air Quality
A large number of controls have been implemented and are maintained to reduce the impact of QAL on air quality.  Continuous dust monitors, linked with wind speed and direction information, depositional dust gauges and internal quality audits are used to monitor the effectiveness of dust reduction programs. 

In 2003 and 2008, QAL commissioned an independent dispersion modelling study of emissions and assessment of the potential health risks to the Gladstone community.  A summary of the report can be viewed at this link Air Dispersion Modelling and Health Risk Assessment Study (PDF 368KB)

Live Air Quality data can be viewed at the Environmental Protection Authority's website.

Odour

Odour from the plant is generated from the Digestion section where decayed organic matter in the bauxite is broken down during the refining process. QAL is committed to further reducing its odour impact on the community and is implementing odour reduction projects in consultation with industry experts.

Water Quality
Chemical, fuel and process storage vessels are stored within bunded areas and procedures have been developed and implemented to ensure that the integrity of drains, bunds and interceptors are checked frequently. Any rainwater captured in bunds is tested prior to release.  Ponds and licenced discharge points are monitored continuously to ensure quality of water is within limits defined by QAL’s Development Approval prior to release.

QAL is also a member of the Port Curtis Integrated Monitoring Program (PCIMP) which was established in 2001 as a cooperative, monitoring program for assessing the ecosystem health of Port Curtis, and to ensure the environmental sustainability of the Port of Gladstone.

Download PCIMP Port Curtis Ecosystem Health Report Card (PDF 955KB)

Wastes
Recycling and segregation are important components of our waste minimisation program. Paper, cardboard and scrap metal are recycled and materials are segregated for secure handling by approved facilities through a purpose built waste management facility.

Revegetation
Where possible, exposed surfaces are revegetated to bind the surface to prevent dust generation as well as to improve aesthetics. Protocols employed involve one or a combination of the following:

• Topsoiling to provide a growth medium for plant species

• Straw mulching which involves harvesting grass from topsoiled areas and spreading over either bare bauxite residue or over residue that has been thinly covered with low-grade soil. The straw
  breaks down encouraging plant growth.

• Salt tolerant species are selected for revegetation as seawater has been mixed with residue to save on use of freshwater. Salt tolerant grasses and trees such as Casuarina glauca, Casuarina equisitfolia, Eucalyptus territocornis and Hibiscus tilleacea have been successfully established on these areas.

Resource Conservation
QAL considers energy and water conservation as priorities. Seawater, which is readily available, is used for mixing with and pumping solid wastes instead of precious freshwater resources. QAL utilises the Gladstone City Council’s tertiary treated sewage effluent that reduces the plant’s freshwater requirements also.  A number of energy conservation projects have also resulted in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.  QAL is also a member of the Greenhouse Challenge.

Improvement Projects

In 2003, QAL launched a capital environmental improvement program worth $245 million. Steady progress is being made to implement projects designed to reduce the impact of our operations in the environment and our neighbouring community. Improvement projects are progressively being implemented in the areas of:

• Dust

• Odour

• Noise

• Alkali

• Water

• Waste management

• Revegetation

Detailed information on specific projects can downloaded by clicking the links below

Download Dust Improvement Projects (PDF 520KB)

Download Environmental Improvement Program Summary (PDF 529KB)