The state government has announced seven community organisations in Port Pirie will receive grants to help reduce lead exposure.

The Department of Human Services has partnered with the Targeted Lead Abatement Program (TLAP) to provide $125,000 worth of grants to Port Pirie organisations as apart of the Greening Grants Initiative.

The community organisations will receive up to $10,000 for projects to help reduce the exposure of dust and soil that could contain lead.

Human Services Minister Nat Cook was at the Port Pirie Community Garden this week to announce the winners and said the garden would receive more than $8,000 to reduce lead exposure.

“These grants are just one of many initiatives not only aimed at lowering levels of lead contamination in the soil of public spaces commonly used by children, but to create a more vibrant community with greener spaces residents will enjoy and want to spend time,” Ms Cook said.

A greener garden 

The community garden planned to use the money to replenish soil for the vegetable beds and cover the beds with tarps.

The grant money would also go towards buying seeds, seedlings and installing a sink so produce can be washed. 

Founding member Philip Harvey said the grant was essential because the club was starting to run out of finances.

“We’ll seal the whole area with crusher dust, and we’ll get new garden beds because our wooden ones have been eaten by white ants,” Mr Harvey said.

He said the garden would also be growing some trees to offset emissions from the city's smelter.

“We’re going to grow some trees for Nyrstar, and a part of our application for the grant is we grow 600 trees for Nrystar,” he said.

“They’re shrubs really, and there’s probably contaminated soil down at the smelters and those shrubs will go over the top,” he said.

Mr Harvey said the produce grown in the garden has never been contaminated with lead.

“We’ve had a machine in here and had them checked and it’s perfect,” he said.

Low targets in sight

Ms Cook said the government wanted the average lead level in children to be below five micrograms per decilitre.

“None would be amazing, and I understand last year's number had come down so let’s just hope that continues,” she said.

Member for Stuart Geoff Brock said the plant was doing well to eliminate the atmospheric emissions from the smelters.

“The issue now is we have a lot of lead inherited in the soil that’s been there for the last 130 years,” Mr Brock said.

“These grants will help seal that soil,” he said.