A range of new air quality tests and studies will take place in the Lower Hunter of NSW in response to community concern, the NSW government announced today.
The new initiatives include additional air quality monitoring stations around Newcastle, a particle characterisation study for PM10 and PM2.5 beginning next month, and a dust deposition study.
NSW Minerals Council CEO, Stephen Galilee, welcomed the move saying the range of initiatives would strengthen the science-based discussion around air quality issues in the region.
“The studies will build on the evidence already available through the three air quality monitors already operating in the Lower Hunter, and previous particle characterisation studies completed by ANSTO,” Galilee said.
“Air quality monitoring at the three existing stations in Newcastle has shown that air quality in the region is good, with national air quality standards being met 9 of the last 10 years at all three monitors. 2009 was the only year that standards were exceeded when dust storms affected air quality across the state.”
“Hunter miners understand the need to provide the community with the best possible information about air quality. It’s why we fund the Upper Hunter Air Quality Monitoring Network, that provides real time, publicly available information about air quality,” Mr Galilee said.
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