The Singleton Shire Healthy Environment Group met with local State member for Upper Hunter George Souris on Friday.

Mr Souris told the group he believed a full time inspectorate of the Department of Planning and Environmental Protection Authority must be appointed in the Upper Hunter.

“I want them to be able to drive straight out to a site the minute after they have felt the earth shake beneath their feet and see the plume in the air and interview the company all within an hour of it happening,” Mr Souris said.

“It’s not good enough to have someone in Sydney.”

At the group’s meeting on Thursday night, members reviewed the national media attention of the health study issue.“We are continuing to respond to the Air Quality Monitoring Network proposal and asking Minister for the Hunter Jodi Mackay to ensure that the planning process of these monitors be overseen by reference groups in the community,” group member Dr John Drinan said.

Dr Drinan said the group still wants there to be some public recognition of requests for a health study and are continuing to correspond with State government departments about it.

“You can’t just look at cancer as group, all types of cancer need to be individually looked at and not just cancer, but all illnesses and diseases,” he said.

The group is currently planning another public meeting for residents of the Singleton Shire.