Esperance clear of lead after two-year controversy

The containers left the port on the 12,782 dwt general cargo ship, Beluga Finesse, on Monday.

She had just 11 days earlier been the subject of an exclusion zone at the port of Bell Bay when she delivered equipment for Tasmanias Gunns pulp mill.

The call at the Esperance was met with a different reaction.

The shipment was the second and final export of the lead stockpile left when Magellan Metals exports were suspended following the March 2007 contamination scandal.

Thousands of birds were found to have died as a result of raised lead and nickel levels in the community which was later traced back to the port stockpiles.

This weeks shipment 8,500 tonnes packed in sealed, two-tonne bulk bags before loaded into containers clears the stockpile at the port.

It follows an initial shipment of 26 containers in March.

Magellan general manager for corporate social responsibility John Yeates said the company was pleased with the operation.

Dr Yeates assured residents the shipment which has been subjected to the intense scrutiny of Western Australias Department of Environment and Conservation was safe.

The storage shed is now enclosed and will be cleaned before being destroyed under strict environmental and safety conditions.

WA premier Colin Barnett described the scandal as one of the worst environmental disasters in the states history.

Mr Barnett said the next phase of the clean-up operation would involve cleaning of houses in Esperance.

The cost of legal action is understood to be expected to run into the tens of millions.