Plans to import ammonia through Kwinana sparked a dispute over safety precautions and the possible closure of public recreation areas during shipments.

Fertiliser manufacturer CSBP was expecting a shipment of ammonia to arrive at the Fremantle Port Authority bulk cargo jetty in Kwinana the following day. The Town of Kwinana, local residents and the Conservation Council criticised the Environmental Protection Authority's decision to close an area around the beach during unloading, while also raising concerns about possible future plans for permanent closure of some facilities.

The Department of State Development said the ship was expected to arrive at the jetty the following afternoon and Wells Park, including its recreational beach and park area, would be closed to the public for 48 hours. The restrictions were introduced at the request of the Environmental Protection Authority.

Consultants Technica Ltd had assessed the risk of ammonia unloading and concluded Kwinana Beach should be closed during shipments. The EPA accepted the findings but had not decided whether the restrictions would become permanent, with a final report on requirements for the area being prepared.

An earlier draft report recommended immediately closing public access to the beach surrounding the bulk cargo jetty, closing Wells Park during ammonia shipments and preventing use of the park for activities involving large numbers of people. It also recommended that nobody live in the bottle shop premises at Wells Park, that the bottle shop and ice works be relocated where possible, and that the Kwinana Beach recreational hall be moved.

Conservation Council president Phil Jennings argued the imports posed an obvious risk to the public and said unloading should not occur in an urban area containing Wells Park and Kwinana Beach.

CSBP and Western Mining, however, said they had constructed a new ammonia importing facility incorporating safety measures into the design and that all safety requirements had been addressed. The terminal had EPA approval and would operate under stringent safety guidelines.