The findings of a report published by the Australian Conservation Foundation has been disputed by many past and present residents from Mount Isa.
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The report titled ‘The Dirty Truth’ named Mount Isa as the most polluted postcode in Australia.
It examined emissions data from the National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) and weekly household income data from the Australia Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
People were quick to shut down the report’s findings on social media.
Wayne Estreich said all businesses and any polluters must report to the National Pollutant Inventory annually.
“This takes into account the very large emissions from the stacks, the vast majority of which is not deposited on or around the area,” he said.
“Remove most of these emissions from the equation and Mount Isa is not as bad as it is made to appear.
“This is not to say that Mount Isa is not the biggest emitter of pollutants.
“Just that the town itself is not as bad as it’s purported to be.”
Ronald McCullough said Mount Isa is a great place to bring up children, with very little traffic delays and plenty of parking.
Tess Pemble grew up in Mount Isa in the 1970s.
She said she had a great childhood despite living mine side, under the fumes of the stripped stack.
“Some days the fumes were that bad it burnt your throat,” she said.
“I am still alive and don't have lead poisoning.”
Valerie Dalton is now aged in her 70s and grew up in Mount Isa. She said she is healthy and well.
“We played on slag heaps and swam in creeks,” she said.
“My ex Isa friends all agree that we had a wonderful childhood.”
Meanwhile Josie M Oliver said it was ‘horrible living in Mount Isa’.
“I used to live on the mine side of town and at times the sulfur would get blown towards my way,” she said.
“It would get that bad at times I would have to shut the whole place up.”
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