Around a decade ago community members started a campaign for the installation of air quality monitors in the Upper Hunter.
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Today everyone should thank them for their efforts as we now have eight years of data on air pollution in the region.
The data does not make for pleasant reading but unlike other regions in the country we have the records to prove our air pollution is increasing and therefore the risks to our health is increasing.
Upper Hunter Air Quality Monitoring Network consists of 14 monitoring stations throughout the region from Singleton through to Merriwa.
These stations issue alerts for PM10 and the finer PM2.5 particle pollution based on a 24 hours rolling average.
When the PM10 levels are above 50 and alert is issued. But as local GP Bob Vickers told a community meeting this week anything above 33 is really unsatisfactory for our health.
What we want to see is a level under 33 if not under 10 - oh to breathe clean air again.
Air pollution is a killer all the health experts tell us this so why doesn't the NSW Government act to control this pollution?
Only our local member Michael Johnsen, NSW Minister for Environment Matt Kean and Minister for Planning Rob Stokes can answer that question.
But we find it disturbing that this government quickly brought legislation to parliament (okay they did defer it until next year) on greenhouse gas emissions from NSW coal burned overseas.
One must ask can they now act just just as quickly on air pollution in the Upper Hunter.
Will they consider the resolution passed at the community meeting on Monday night?
Specifically bring in a load based licencing fee for the coarse and fine particle pollution emitted by coal mines (which are currently exempt).
Minister Stokes acted overnight on the review of the Independent Planning Commission why can't he do the same on air pollution?
Who matter more investors or our community - failure by the NSW Government to act now on air pollution will provide the answer to that question.
Now onto the bushfire emergency. Thanks to our interstate firefighters and the local RFS volunteers for all your hard work last week. May we continue to all work together to protect our community.
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.
