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Fremantle council considers legal challenge to lead plan

<p>The city of Fremantle could launch a legal challenge to stop plans to export lead from its port.</p> <p>The Western Australian Government last week gave its approval to the plan to export containerised lead, subject to safety precautions said to have gone above and beyond Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) recommendations.</p> <p>But Fremantle mayor Peter Tagliaferri told local media that the council was investigating all of its options and promised not to &#8220leave a stone unturned&#8221 in the city’s fight against the export plan.</p> <p>Magellan Metals had exported its lead product through port of Esperance until a contamination scandal there early last year.</p> <p>But Mr Tagliaferr said Fremantle residents held grave fears of similar contamination in the more populated city.</p> <p>Magellan wants to shift about 150,000 tonnes of lead each year from Wiluna to Fremantle by rail. </p> <p>WA planning and infrastructure minister Alannah MacTiernan has not chosen to exercise her veto powers and is supporting environmental safeguards announced as part of conditional approval last week. </p> <br />