Adbri Cement Community Update

26 July, 2024

The following information provides an update for the local community potentially impacted by the dust event that occurred in May 2024, and follows on from the two community liaison group sessions hosted by Adbri.

Introduction

Adbri Cement’s flagship integrated clinker and cement manufacturing facility at Birkenhead, South Australia has operated since 1913. This facility produces Australia’s lowest embodied carbon verified Type GP cement, supplying the South Australian, Victorian and New South Wales construction and mining sectors. We contribute over $626 million to the South Australian economy and support more than 2400 local jobs in the state. 

Limestone is sourced from Adbri’s Klein Point quarry and, when heated in our kilns at Birkenhead, an intermediate product, referred to as clinker, is made. Clinker is then ground during the manufacturing of cement.

Clinker is a solid material consisting of lumps or nodules that we store in enclosed clinker sheds onsite.

Cement is finely ground powder

Adbri has a proactive programme at Birkenhead designed to ensure a world-class operation. This includes our critical maintenance programme designed for both operations and supporting infrastructure, such as the clinker shed. 

Cause of the dust event

In May 2024, there was scheduled maintenance on the clinker shed located near Victoria Road, Birkenhead. Unfortunately, during the maintenance work we did not properly identify the potential for gaps to remain under the eaves of the clinker shed. This resulted in dust emissions that impacted our neighbours. 

Adbri apologises to the community and is committed to doing better in the future. 

Response to the dust event

Adbri took immediate action to identify and fix the source of the dust leakage and we have been working with the community ever since to rectify any associated damage or dust impact on property. 

Since the event, Adbri has:

  • posted regular updates on its community website to keep residents informed, as well as holding two community liaison group meetings to update the community and provide opportunities for Adbri, the EPA and SA Health to answer questions
  • installed additional CCTV cameras to those already onsite to provide even more early monitoring capability of potential emissions
  • amended our processes and training to more clearly identify and address environmental risks when undertaking works programmes, and
  • identified dust mitigation projects that we propose will form part of our Environment Improvement Programme

Adbri thanks the EPA and SA Health for presenting to the community at its Community Liaison Group meeting. As discussed at the meeting, clinker dust emitted in this event has large particle sizes. They are too large to be breathed into the lungs and do not result in respiratory illness.  

We are committed to continuous environmental improvement

Adbri is committed to rectifying damage from the dust event on the 13th and 14th May 2024. If you are yet to lodge a request for property assessment, please do so by contacting our 24/7 community hotline on 8300 0520 or emailing BHCommunity@adbri.com.au.

For the past 15 years we have had an Environment Improvement Plan for the Birkenhead site to drive continuous improvement. We will continue to work with the EPA and the community as we update the plan.

We encourage you to stay up-to-date about our operations via our community website.

More information