Hunter Air Quality Adds to Fight for Coal Crackdown

Air quality monitoring in Hunter, New South Wales, Australia throughout 2013 reveals that national guidelines for air pollution were exceeded over 170 times. According to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) data, which was collected by the Hunter Community Environment Centre, some of the instances of low air quality recorded pollution at over double safe levels. 

The monitoring took place in an effort to prove that Port Waratah Coal Services' T4 project would be detrimental to the environment. The Hunter Community Environment Centre has been fighting the project since it was announced. 

Of the 17 air monitoring stations across Hunter, only two recorded air pollution levels that were under the national levels, according to committee chair, Dr James Whelan. These high levels of air pollution, coupled with the fact that certain deep-penetrating particulate pollution is incredibly damaging to human health and has been linked to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, means that the project to create a fourth coal terminal would be highly damaging, continued Dr Whelan. 

Monitoring found that particulate pollution measuring under ten micrometers (PM10) exceeded national standards on 171 occasions, subjecting residents to air quality that could have long-term effects. The number of times pollution was over the limit during 2013 was a 50 per cent increase on the 115 times air pollution was high in 2012.

Dr Whelan said that not only should the fourth coal terminal not go ahead but changes to current operations should also be made in an attempt to reduce air pollution. Coal stockpiles and rail wagons should be covered, he continued, in an effort to minimise particulate pollution.

"Especially (covering) the unloaded, the empty coal wagons, would produce a significant benefit that would significantly lower the particle pollution that the residents in Newcastle and the Lower Hunter are exposed to," Dr Whelan told ABC News.

"There's clear evidence that that needs to happen. But for the moment, the New South Wales government appears resolute in their opposition to that policy."

"Not only could covering wagons help to protect the health of Hunter residents, it will also help the coal industry save money. Covering wagons will help to reduce the amount of minerals that are lost through transit, improving the quality of goods", said Dr Whelan.