The EPA and DEM are aware of community concerns related to dust in the area.
The EPA and DEM undertake regulatory compliance monitoring of the site. This includes both scheduled and unannounced site inspections and regular visual observations from within nearby localities. The EPA and DEM will continue regular inspections and ongoing surveillance of the Sellicks Beach area and quarry for observable dust emissions.
To protect communities from potential risks from airborne dust, Adbri must adhere to the requirements of its environmental licence issued under the EP Act as well as the Environment Protection (Air Quality) Policy 2016 (Air Quality Policy). Adbri has three on-site air quality monitors and is required to submit and make publicly available quarterly air quality monitoring reports. In addition, Adbri must inform the EPA within 48 hours if fine airborne particle levels (as PM10) are exceeded. Data collected to date indicates that dust from the quarry is primarily below the requirements outlined in the Air Quality Policy.
As reported at the Sellicks Hill Quarry Community Consultative Group (CCG), Adbri conducts annual personal dust monitoring on employees and information in relation to this is available on the Adbri website.
Since 2016, the EPA licence has required Adbri to have a Dust Management Plan (DMP) in place at all times to manage the environmental impacts of dust on and around the site. An updated DMP was approved by the EPA in January 2025. As part of this DMP, Adbri is conducting a study to inform further updates to the management of dust at the site. Following the study, a revised DMP must be submitted to the EPA by April 2025.
The revised DMP will result in a further strengthening of dust management controls, including:
- updated and tightened Trigger Action Response Plan dust levels
- improved dust mitigations at the crusher and associated processing plant
- additional screening mound construction works
- revised dust controls around drilling and blasting activities.
Details on further actions being undertaken by the SA Government to monitor and reduce dust in the area are available here.
Advice from Professor Nicola Spurrier, Chief Public Health Officer, to Mayor Moira Were AM in December 2024, which was noted at the City of Onkaparinga’s January 2025 Council meeting, stated:
Based on evidence from available Australian and international monitoring carried out in communities that have an industrial source, such as a quarry, Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) has not been found to be a health concern in ambient air or in community settings. To develop silicosis, exposure to RCS generally needs to be long term and at high levels, and such high levels are usually not seen in community or ambient air settings.
Prolonged exposure to high concentrations of dust may pose health risks to some individuals, however, the air quality monitoring data indicates that dust from the quarry is nearly always below the national guideline concentrations recognised as impacting human health.
On 3 July 2024, Adbri recommenced the CCG to ensure the company is proactive and transparent in its engagement with the community. The terms of reference for the CCG ensure a broad representation of the community. The first meeting was held on 3 July 2024 following an expression of interest process with community residents, the local council, and local businesses.
Meetings are currently intended to be held quarterly. DEM and the EPA have agreed to attend CCG meetings on invitation of the independent facilitator, where there are relevant matters the CCG has raised for discussion.
Adbri’s CCG meeting on 11 December 2024 provided an opportunity for the community to understand Adbri’s proposals for further improvement of dust controls at the site.
CCG meeting minutes are available on the Adbri website and further information on the CCG is available by contacting:
Adbri – (08) 8556 3007 or communityfeedback@southernquarries.com.au
Brenton Chappell (independent facilitator) – 0409 155 743 or simplyconnecting.chappell@gmail.com.
SA Health representatives attended the October 2024 CCG meeting to answer questions from community members and provide general information in response to health concerns raised. SA Health’s presentation is available below:
If you have any questions about the SA Health presentation, please contact SA Health at health.chemicalandenvironmentalhazards@sa.gov.au.
Between January 2016 and February 2017, the EPA conducted an ambient air quality monitoring campaign in Sellicks Beach with a mobile air quality monitoring station deployed in Arcadia Crescent Reserve at Sellicks Beach.
The station measured hourly particulate matter 10 micrometres or less in diameter (PM10), particulate matter 2.5 micrometres or less in diameter (PM2.5), and total suspended particulate matter (TSP) along with meteorological parameters (temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and wind direction) for more than a year. The analysis of the PM10, PM2.5, and TSP data, along with wind speed and wind direction data, provided information on the direction of particle movement at the monitoring location.
The overall findings of the campaign showed that the levels of PM10 and PM2.5 at the monitoring site were generally within the national health-based criteria values of 50 µg/m3 averaged over a 24-hour period for PM10 and 25 µg/m3 averaged over a 24-hour period for PM2.5. The analysis of PM10 and TSP data along with corresponding wind speed and wind direction data showed significant contributions to TSP and PM10 levels were associated with wind blowing from west to north-west of the monitoring station, which suggested major contributions from sea salt sprays (i.e. natural dust). The station also exhibited PM10 and TSP from the south-east (i.e. the direction of the quarry). However, the relative contribution of dust at the monitoring location was higher from natural dust compared to dust from the direction of the quarry.
View the report here.
