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WHYALLA EXERCISE: Troops from the 1st Brigade move into action during the Predator's Run 2018 exercise.
Following feedback and enquiries from residents, the City of Whyalla has contacted the Australian Army regarding the recent dust hazards experienced on the Lincoln Highway.
The dust was caused by vehicle activity from the 1st Brigade’s Predator’s Run 2018 exercise at the Cultana Field Training Area north of Whyalla.
More than 2500 members of the brigade are coming together to train causing an increase in military traffic along and alongside the Princes, Augusta, Eyre and Lincoln highways.
The exercise is scheduled to run from September 3-28 as the soldiers begin preparation for operational deployment and contingency tasks in 2019.
The army responded within an hour to Council’s enquiry regarding the highway dust hazards and provided the following statement.
The Australian Army has been made aware of the issue raised by members of the public regarding large dust clouds descending on the Lincoln Highway.
This was unfortunately caused by Defence vehicle movements along the training range boundary fence next to the highway.
As a result we have immediately put in place measures to reduce this from occurring in the future. This includes restricting our vehicle movements away from the training area boundaries.
Unfortunately the requirement for our vehicles to move across the Lincoln Highway from the Eastern side of the training area to the West means we cannot completely remove the dust problem; however we are actively trying to minimise it.
We do ask if anyone encounters a dust cloud on the Lincoln Highway that they reduce their speed until they are clear.
We apologise to our good friends and neighbours in the surrounding communities for any impact this has caused and again thank you for bringing this to our attention.
READ MORE ON EXERCISE PREDATOR'S RUN 2018
http://www.whyalla.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?u=182&c=64211