Coal dust places Premier Newman in a bind - Herald Sun

DIRTY DEEDS: A Coal train passing through Fairfield railway station. Picture: Mark Calleja Source: The Courier-Mail

THE Newman Government will investigate dust emissions from the coal stockpile at the Port of Brisbane but says it is not clear what the state can do to force coal companies to take immediate action.

Residents along the urban rail corridor in Brisbane, Ipswich and Toowoomba and near the Port coal stockpile have been complaining about a rise in exposure to the dust as more trains from Darling Downs mines use the network.

Exclusive tests conducted by The Courier-Mail this week revealed coal dust levels up to 40 per cent on affected homes.

A spokesman for Premier Campbell Newman said it was unclear what could be done to make the companies "act now".

But the Department of the Environment and Heritage Protection told The Courier-Mail it will investigate alleged off-site coal emissions from the coal stockpile at the Queensland Bulk Handling site.

EHP said if sufficient evidence was found that coal dust was causing environmental harm and nuisance, compliance action could be taken to reduce coal dust emissions.

The Queensland Resources Council last week announced New Hope Coal, Peabody Energy and Yancoal would start veneering coal wagons using the urban rail corridor next year to reduce emissions.

But no decision has been made to suppress emissions from the Port stockpile.

Mining executive Clive Palmer said he was "100 per cent supportive" of immediate veneering of the coal - or a more expensive option of covering all coal wagons to the Port.

State Leader of Katter's Australian Party, Ray Hopper, said rural communities have been fighting coal dust for a long time.

"Hopefully now that coal dust, delivered by trains running through Brisbane to the port, is recognised as a serious issue we will see some real action," he said.