With the Upper Hunter Air Quality Monitor Network map covered in bright red hazardous air pollution figures for Friday the question was why were no alerts were being issued?
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Alerts are issued via SMS and emails once the 24 hours rolling average for PM10 and PM2.5 reach levels above the national standards.
The map was recording levels way above the national standards in fact in hazardous levels today.
A spokesperson for the Department o Planning, Industry and Environment said there was a technical issue that has led to SMS and email alerts for the Upper Hunter and the Central Coast regions not being issued today. DPIE technicians are currently investigating the cause.
We can confirm that this issue has only affected the alert system for some regions and that the alerts for most regions (Sydney, Illawarra, Lower Hunter, Central Tablelands, NW Slopes, SW Slopes) have been unaffected.
The DPIE website has continued to deliver hourly air pollution updates for all stations today even with high website traffic and while DPIE is adding additional emergency monitoring stations to the website.
Given the current impact from bushfire smoke air quality monitor pods will be installed on sites on the Mid North and North Coast to provide alerts in those regions.
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.
