Upper Hunter air quality alerts spark calls for health study

The Upper Hunter region experienced 65 air quality alerts for poor to high levels of dust during September. A significant portion of these alerts occurred between September 15 and 21, when pollution was visible across the region.

The Upper Hunter Air Quality Monitoring Network, which tracks PM10 and PM2.5 particulates, utilizes 14 monitors across the Upper Hunter, Muswellbrook, and Singleton local government areas. Merriwa recorded two consecutive days of alerts on September 21 and 22. Notably, there are currently no monitors in Scone to track pollution levels there.

The monitoring network is operated by the NSW Department of Environment and Heritage in partnership with local coal and power industries. In response to perceived inaction by government agencies and mining companies regarding air pollution and regulation, local resident and mining veteran Kevin Waldock has installed signage along Putty Road to encourage citizens to report visible dust plumes to the NSW Environment Protection Authority.