NSW Labor Leader Jodi McKay today demanded the Berejiklian-Barilaro Government take action to address increasingly dangerous air quality in the Upper Hunter region.
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Ms McKay used Question Time in State Parliament to ask the Premier to come up with a plan to deal with the cumulative effects of air pollution in the Upper Hunter.
The number of negative air quality readings so far this year has more than doubled, compared to those in 2018.
Currently there have been 655 alerts so far this year.
Local doctors and medical professionals have repeatedly raised their concerns with the government about the increase in air quality alerts but to date their pleas for action have fallen on deaf ears.
Local National MP Michael Johnsen has been completely absent on the issue and despite his community's growing concerns he has done nothing to address it.
A community meeting was held on Monday night where local doctor Bob Vickers said that during spring, before the impact of bushfire smoke, spikes of 600 PM10 levels at sites in Singleton were recorded. Anything above 33 PM10 is breaking national standards.
Ms McKay said she was shocked to hear that the meeting was told that so far this year the 14 monitoring stations had recorded 637 alerts, more than double the 305 alerts recorded in 2018.
Labor's Shadow Minister for Local Government Greg Warren has visited the area twice in recent weeks and listened to the community's ongoing concerns.
Ms McKay said Labor backs the community's demands for a proper plan to address the cumulative effects of air pollution as a result of the 14 open cut mines in the area.
"All the community is asking for is to be heard but unfortunately they feel they are being ignored by the Liberal-National Government. When air pollution increases the quality of life decreases and government must step up and deal with the issue," she said.
"Mining underpins the local economy, however community health concerns are serious and valid and their concerns cannot be ignored. The government should be listening to the local community and taking every action to protect residents from dangerous pollution."
The 2016 Clean Air for NSW Discussion paper sits awaiting action by the Government and so does their proposed cumulative air pollution study - only got so as a final draft of the methodologies to be used in the report (August 2015).
Next community meeting:
Clearing the Air - Practical action to improve our air quality
Tuesday, November 26, 6:00pm
Muswellbrook Conservatorium of Music
Campbell's Corner, Muswellbrook
Special Guest - Adam Gilligan, Regional Director North, NSW EPA
Mr Johnsen has informed the Argus he has a prior commitment and will not be attending the meeting.