THE Hunter Valley is on track to record its worst air quality since monitoring began due to increasing levels of coarse particulate matter (PM10).
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Five Hunter towns and villages are tracking to record PM10 levels that exceed national standards, according to data from the Office of Environment and Heritage.
So far, 2018 has been the worst recorded year for air quality since the Upper Hunter air quality monitoring network started measurements in 2012.
It came as the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) was scheduled to consider the approval of a new mine in the region during the week.
The United Wambo project, near Jerrys Plains, should have been the subject of a public meeting in Singleton on Wednesday, however it was cancelled at the last minute due to a conflict of interest issue involving one of the panelists.
Lock the Gate NSW spokesperson Georgina Woods said the United Wambo expansion could not be allowed to go ahead because it would further threaten the health of residents in the region.
“People are already getting sick from sheer volume of air pollution the coal mines are creating in the Hunter,” she said.
“Lock the Gate will tell the commission that cumulative air pollution already being experienced in the central Hunter is chronic and causing population harm.
Ms Woods said the way particulate matter was measured in the Hunter was also flawed.
“The air quality assessment being considered by the Independent Planning Commission uses 2014 as the year against which changes in air quality as a result of the new United Wambo super-pit are measured,” she said.
Recent Reachtell polling showed 84.2 per cent of Singleton and Muswellbrook residents who were questioned agreed that Hunter residents should not be subjected to air pollution levels from coal dust that exceed national thresholds.
Close to 70 per cent were strongly in agreement.
An Environment Protection Authority spokesman said all coal mines’ environment protection licences required them to minimise dust.
The EPA has required all coal mines to implement best practice measures to minimise dust emissions via the Dust Stop Program.
“The EPA monitors compliance with the requirements through inspections, which is estimated to be reducing particle emissions from NSW coal mines by 22,000 tonnes per annum,” the spokesman said.
The EPA conducted Operation Dust Patrol throughout Spring, checking that mines minimise dust levels on high risk, windy days.
“The campaign has been a big success with most mines adjusting operational activities.
Matthew Kelly
Matthew Kelly has worked as a journalist for more than 25 years. He has been working as a general reporter at the Newcastle Herald since 2018. In recent years he has reported on subjects including environment, energy, water security, manufacturing and higher education. He has previously covered issues including the health and environmental impacts of uncovered coal wagons in the Hunter Valley, the pollution of legacy of former industrial sites and freedom of information issues.
Matthew Kelly has worked as a journalist for more than 25 years. He has been working as a general reporter at the Newcastle Herald since 2018. In recent years he has reported on subjects including environment, energy, water security, manufacturing and higher education. He has previously covered issues including the health and environmental impacts of uncovered coal wagons in the Hunter Valley, the pollution of legacy of former industrial sites and freedom of information issues.
