Road conditions across the site are also a focus of the ten by 10 project as it is more difficult to extract any lead dust from an uneven surface. As a result, a great deal of bitumenising has taken place to upgrade road surfaces. Several trials with different vacuum cleaners to find the best and most effective device for the smelter have also been undertaken. Vacuuming on a dry surface has proven to be the most successful as wetted down dust stays inside cracks.
Unsealed roads on site have also been covered with Dustex, a dust suppressant agent which binds individual dust particles. Dustex which is produced from timber by the pulp and paper industry, has been applied to roads in the pit area and the copper plant road. The material is non-toxic to humans, animals and plants and is completely biodegradable. Dustex has been used on unsealed roads across Australia for a number of years and is considered an industry standard for wind-borne dust control. Although the application of Dustex is not complete and requires a number of coats, results are already proving favorable.
