Residents of Greenbushes, 240km south of Perth, are struggling with dust from the Talison Lithium mine, Australia's largest and oldest lithium operation. The miner plans to open a free car wash for affected residents, but locals say this misses the mark in addressing the ongoing problem.
Grant Mcdonald, a resident, said the car wash is welcome but does not solve the issue. 'It's very nice offering us a car wash, but we shouldn't have to have one,' he said. 'If you're going to have a car wash it's telling the world you know something's wrong.'
Residents have reported persistent coughs, watering eyes, and a thin white dust coating cars and homes. Mcdonald noted his outside table is covered with a millimetre of dust, and his car is dirty daily. Talison breached dust exceedence limits 12 times in 2024–25 but said it has not done so since.
Rick Fryer, who lives on Stanifer Street, said heavy trucks now pass his home at all hours. 'You'd imagine the biggest and best lithium mine in the world ought to be able to have their own purpose-built haul road without destroying the community,' he said. He added that dust on cars is worse than before despite reduced mine dust.
Kellie Gillies from nearby Bridgetown said the car wash will not clean the air. 'There's a certain irony in proposing a car rinse facility in the middle of an ongoing dust problem,' she said. Talison stated dust management is a priority and the car wash is part of its commitment to being better neighbours.
