Speakers at a community meeting, held in Singleton on Monday night, were highly critical of the NSW Government's abject failure to act on dangerous levels of air pollution in the Upper Hunter.
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"We are studying the problem to death, quite literally, as particle pollution causes premature death," said air quality researcher James Whelan.
"All the data is available from the Upper Hunter Air Quality Monitoring Network the problem lies with those sitting in parliament house in Macquarie Street - they are failing to act on the data."
Local GP Bob Vickers said during the last five years in the Upper Hunter pollution from PM10 (coarse particles) had caused 160 more deaths.
"Where does PM10 come from in our region - nearly 90 per cent of that pollution comes from open cut mining - that is a fact," he said.
"This pollution is rising that is also a fact and what is really worrying to me and other doctors and medical professionals is the increase in air quality alerts in Singleton.
"For Singleton NW the alerts are alarming as the monitor is located 600 metres from a day care centre and only one kilometre from Singleton Heights Primary School.
"We are harming the health of our local children and really a significant population in our town is being exposed to harmful PM10 pollution."
So far this year (November 19) the Upper Hunter's 14 air quality monitors have recorded 637 alerts - that is more than double the alerts (305) recorded in 2018.
Singleton's nine monitors have been the most active and there was criticism on the night of the fact these monitors only issue an alert for the 24 hour rolling average.
If a 12 hour average was used the alerts would be significantly higher, said Dr Vickers.
"During this spring before the bushfire smoke impacts we were recording spikes of 600 PM10 levels at sites in the Singleton area - when anything above 33 is breaking national standards," he said.
"The PM10 comes from the pits, the large trucks and the blasting."
Commenting on the usual methods to alleviate the pollution he said it would be madness to wash coal haul roads in a drought.
Bulga Milbrodale Progress Association president, John Krey was dismissive of the fines given out to the mining company for any air quality breaches.
"One of our nearby mines, we estimate makes $1 million/day profit, so giving them a $15,000 fine is pointless as it makes no impact to their profitability," he said.
"Perhaps shutting them down for a period of time would be a better option as that may cause more financial pain."
There were calls for the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) to base a compliance officer in the Upper Hunter to continually check on the mining companies operations.
But for many of the 50 people in attendance at the meeting there was a feeling of complete frustration with their own attempts to get the government or government agencies to act on their complaints and concerns about air pollution.
Dr Whelan was more optimistic saying the region's monitors provided the data that proved the Upper Hunter had an air pollution problem that was impacting on the community's health.
"The next step we need to adopt is a strategy to control that air pollution and then implement that strategy and check it is working for the long term benefit of the Upper Hunter."
The meeting unanimously adopted a series of demands and resolved to send them to State Government representatives, including the EPA and the Minister for the Environment Matt Kean.
Resolution adopted by the Singleton air pollution crisis meeting:
That NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean and CEO of the NSW EPA Tracey Mackey establish and air pollution strategy for the Hunter region that:
1. ensures meaningful community involvement in its development and ongoing monitoring and review
2. requires polluters to implement controls that result in measurable improvement in air quality in Singleton and Muswellbrook Shires to well below the national standards
3. includes a load based licencing fee for the coarse and fine particle pollution emitted by coal mines (which are currently exempt)
4. employs a full-time "air control manager" with overarching powers to control blasts etc
5. incorporates Hunter New England local health district into the decision-making process so that local health impacts are assessed and alerts issued when there's a deterioration in air quality
Louise Nichols
From cattle to coal. Once a specialist agriculture writer today its about community, in particular, the Upper Hunter. I have lived and worked in the region for more than 30 years. Land use issues and the future direction of our region. But you cannot take ag out of the picture - our food and how we grow it is the basis of all life. Covering the Hunter and Mid North Coast rural issues is now part of my role with ACM.
From cattle to coal. Once a specialist agriculture writer today its about community, in particular, the Upper Hunter. I have lived and worked in the region for more than 30 years. Land use issues and the future direction of our region. But you cannot take ag out of the picture - our food and how we grow it is the basis of all life. Covering the Hunter and Mid North Coast rural issues is now part of my role with ACM.
