'Bust the Dust' Campaign Hits Hunter Mines

BY ISABEL EVERETT

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is again targeting mines causing excessive dust in the Hunter with the second year of the ‘Bust the Dust’ spring campaign starting this week.

EPA Director Regulatory Operations Adam Gilligan said “Bust the Dust” last year had been a success with most mines adjusting their operational activities on high risk, windy days and further improvement was expected this year.

“EPA officers will be using the latest technology, including drones, to monitor mines and to ensure dust is minimised,” Mr Gilligan said.

“Dust from mining activity in the Hunter Valley is a key concern for the community. The EPA expects all coal mines to be vigilant, to take extra precautions and to have systems in place to control dust from their operations, to ensure better air quality for the community.”

Mr Gilligan said EPA officers determine the risk of dust every day and will be frequently checking mining operations with the expectation that best practice dust controls are implemented, including shut down of operations if necessary.

“Mines are on notice, the EPA and community expect mine operators to reduce dust and any mines that don’t will face significant penalties,” Mr Gilligan said.

Community members can report concerns regarding dust risk directly to the mine or to EPA on 131 555.

Image Credit: Lock the Gate Alliance

Air quality declines as fears of pollution-related diseases grow

BY GEMMA FERGUSON

The Upper Hunter region has experienced a decline in air quality this year. Health professionals, such as Dr Bob Vickers, are concerned about the impacts of this.

Camberwell is one example, a village that has exceeded the national air quality standards for course particle pollution 52 times already this year. This is already more than the 44 recorded last year, and the total of 126 for years 2011 through to 2017.

Bob Vickers says there's been an increase in chronic and acute diseases associated with worsening air quality.

"Certainly, what everyone seems to be aware of is the link between air pollution and lung diseases like asthma, emphysema, hay-fever, and sinus symptoms - but we're actually getting more and more evidence that fine particle pollution can lead to really long-term damage with regards to stroke, heart disease, dementia, pregnancy issues, diabetes," he said.

Bob Vickers said he's especially worried for drought-stricken mining towns like Camberwell, which is surround by a total of eight mines.

"The data coming from our monitoring networks for places like Camberwell is really worrying. For example, when we had the dust storm last week. Everyone assumed there was nothing we could do, it was just a weather-related event, and the whole state really did suffer - but, looking at the Upper Hunter monitoring system, Camberwell had an average fine particle pollution reading of 39, before the storm even hit," he explained.

The national standard dictates that the number should never exceed 25 within a 24 hour period, so it's clear Camberwell's air quality isn't what it should be, according to this measure.

Concerned locals have called on the Government to perform a health risk assessment of Camberwell and surrounding Upper Hunter communities facing similar air quality problems.

However, their request was met by NSW Minerals Council Chief Executive, Stephen Galilee, who suggested worried residents relocate. He offered advice on the rules in place for when problems like this arise, saying affected residents have the right to ask a nearby mine to purchase their property and move somewhere else.

"It's really frustrating to see the Minerals Council CEO saying the solution is residents having to move, I think that's really unfair," Bob Vickers concluded.

Image credit: The Singleton Argus

Coal Loader Relocation Called Off

BY KEELY JOHNSON

Tighes Hill residents are disappointed with the NSW governments recent back-flip on plans to relocate Carrington's coal loader.

The relocation was touted for investigation in the 2017 draft Newcastle Greater Metropolitan Plan, however the final version, released last week makes no mention of the idea. 

The coal terminal is located about 200 metres from residential properties, exposing residents to coal dust.   

Charlotte McCabe from the Tighes Hill Community Group is accusing the government of pandering to the interests of coal industry heavyweights. 

"We were hoping the state government would investigate alternative uses for the site," she said, "but it looks like, unfortunately, the company has been listened to instead of the community. 

"We will continue to call for the state government to look for alternatives in the future." 

Image: NBN News. 

Call for Greater Intervention to Prevent Muswellbrook Pollution

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

It's feared pollution from Upper Hunter coal mines will only intensify unless companies are forced to temporarily shut down when air quality becomes hazardous.

A review of the Upper Hunter Air Quality Monitoring Network concludes Muswellbrook has some of the worst air pollution figures in the state.

Throughout the Summer of 2017/18, there were 13 exceedances of large particle pollution, with very dry and windy conditions exacerbating the problem.

It comes as families vacate the town in droves, hoping to avoid health risks associated with coal dust.

Muswellbrook Councillor, Graeme McNeill has been contacted by an anonymous employee at BHP and now believes behemoth companies are merely copping EPA fines while continuing to pollute.

"If [an individual] is caught littering, they're fined approximately 1% of the yearly average income [equating to about $700]," he said, "but the latest fine that BHP incurred represents less than 0.001% of their annual profits."

The Councillor thinks it's a mere drop in the ocean which fails to disincentivise dust exceedances and is calling for the EPA to be given the power to stop operations until favourable conditions (like less wind and heat) return.

"Muswellbrook has given up its natural landscapes and its clean air for the benefit of NSW in royalties that the government receives," Cr McNeill said.

"When you look at the revenue being extracted from the area," he explained, "it just seems very unjust that we can't even be looked after with clean air...

He said those residents who remain in the town are suffering through consequences.

"People's water bills are through the roof because you're always washing verandahs, backwashing in pools...we're burdened with all these additional costs as well as the health effects just so the state can benefit from the derived income," he concluded.

It's unclear when the matter will be brought before Muswellbrook Shire Council, with Cr McNeill labelling it an "ongoing discussion."

Image: Muswellbrook Chronicle. 

Newcastle's 2304 Now A Nicer Place To Live

BY IAN CROUCH.

It's been regarded as one of Newcastle's most polluted postcodes for years, but new data shows that's all changed.

The National Pollution Inventory shows there's been a marked decline in air pollution in suburbs within the 2304 postcode over the past 5 years.

2304 takes in Kooragang, Mayfield, Mayfield West, Warabrook and Sandgate.

An analysis of air quality data shows levels of 16 major airborne pollutants like ammonia, fluoride, oxides of nitrogen, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide had fallen dramatically.

The reductions are being attributed to tougher pollution controls placed on major industry in the area.

However, residents say dust pollution continues to be a big issue - especially coal dust from the coal loaders, coal trains and coal trucks.

Although dust pollution has also dropped significantly in the postcode, the data shows fine particulate pollution from Port Waratah Coal Services coal loading facilities increased by 77 percent over the past five years.

It's thought the switch from vehicles which use unleaded petrol to those which use diesel at the PWCS sites is the reason behind the rise - diesel fueled vehicles produce more PM2.5 particulate emissions than unleaded vehicles.

The installation of automated dust management systems at Mayfield has resulted in better air quality. A requirement to improve dust management from coal wagons has also been introduced.

Port Waratah Coal Services Kooragang Coal Terminal Picture: pwcs.com.au