At our Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO) Port Hedland operations, we acknowledge our responsibility to our community and regulators to continuously improve our air quality performance. We continue to work closely with government, industry and the local community to further improve air quality controls at our operations and for the communities where we operate. We want to help improve local amenity while continuing to provide jobs and economic opportunity for the region.  

As announced in April 2020, BHP committed A$300 million to the Pilbara Air Quality Program over a five-year period. The Program demonstrates our commitment to improving air quality by implementing and optimising operational dust control projects across our Pilbara supply chain. WAIO delivered on this commitment by completing both the Nelson Point and Finucane Island wind fences in June 2024. Program deliverables included:  

The LEAF project: The LEAF (Leaf Enhanced Air Filtration) project to mitigate airborne dust and improve aesthetics in the West End district of Port Hedland. Around 150,000 local native plants, specifically chosen to maximise dust capture, were planted to create a vegetation buffer that enhances the visual appeal of the area and reduces dust levels. In total, the vegetation barrier covers seven hectares and spans approximately 2.3 kilometres. In November 2024, the town of Port Hedland assumed maintenance and management of this area, which is flourishing despite minor damage from Tropical Cyclone Zelia.  

The project was delivered through collaboration with the Town of Port Hedland, Curtin University, Greening Australia, Kariyarra Aboriginal Corporation, IBN Group (a First Nations business), Yurra (part-owned by Yindjibarndi People, contracted to manage the ground works), local community groups and other stakeholders to ensure a successful and aesthetic outcome for the residents of Port Hedland. 

Image caption: Vegetation buffer in the West End of Port Hedland 

Installation of wind fences: In FY2024, BHP reported the completed installation of three wind fences at BHP’s Port Hedland operations. Wind fences have been proven to significantly reduce the potential for dust lift-off from ore stockpiles. Designed for the Pilbara’s unique weather conditions and rated specifically to withstand cyclones, the fences include mesh panels designed to reduce wind speeds, shielding BHP’s stockpiles and reducing the potential for dust lift-off.   

In FY2025, Tropical Cyclone Zelia tested the mesh breakaway system of the Nelson Point and Finucane Island wind fences, which responded as expected. The bespoke design for the Pilbara cyclonic conditions helps protect the fence structure in extreme winds through the breakaway system. Each panel is fixed by cable across the top and attached with clips on the sides and bottom that fail at a specific loading. When the clips release, the panel ‘flags’ but remains attached to the structure. Once the extreme weather passes, damaged panels are replaced, and loose panels reattached.  

Air Quality Management System (AQMS): BHP uses software to display real-time data, predict future conditions, and inform decisions to manage potential dust impacts on the air shed surrounding our sites. The software runs on a configurable software application, P2, which is supported by BHP’s in-house Technology team, and is being used at WAIO’s Port Hedland and Newman to alert teams when a dust management trigger or reportable event occurs. It prompts teams to complete pre-configured checklists and record observations and actions taken during dust events, in line with licence requirements.  

P2 complements the display system, which uses near real-time data feeds from on-site monitors to ensure accurate and timely responses, as well as visual dashboards to inform decisions and manage potential impacts of dust.     

The installation of dust control infrastructure such as the wind fences, in conjunction with BHP’s real-time dust monitoring and management software enables proactive and data-driven management actions to support reductions in operational dust emissions and improvements to air quality outcomes.