16 April, 2013
Australian Government urged to strengthen air quality regulation: NSW Government failures aired to Senate Committee
An Australian Senate Committee will today hear evidence of an air quality crisis in the Hunter Valley and Newcastle. Senators will be greeted at Newcastle City Hall by dozens of concerned community members when they arrive for a Public Hearing of the National Inquiry into the Impacts on Health from Air Quality.
“The Hunter Valley’s air pollution crisis is now receiving the national attention it warrants,” said Nature Conservation Council of NSW CEO Mr Pepe Clarke who will testify to the Committee today. “The NSW Government is clearlyunwilling to ensure healthy air quality in the Hunter, and a tougher national approach is necessary.” Mr Clarke said.
Earlier this year, community groups raised funds to monitor at twelve houses within 500 metres the Hunter valley ‘coal corridor’. Analysis by the University of Newcastle found fine particle levels exceeding the national standard at most houses on most days.
“We will be urging the Senators to adopt a stronger national approach to protecting community health,” said Coal Terminal Action Group spokesperson Dr James Whelan. “Air pollution in the Hunter Valley breached national standards 115 times during 2012, yet the NSW Government is fast-tracking approval of additional pollution sources including new mines and a proposed fourth coal terminal (T4).”
Community groups in the Hunter made many of the 129 submissions received, urging Australian governments to protect public health by adopting a national standard for PM2.5 and to call the NSW Government to account for its failure to comply with existing national standards. Public health experts have estimated that the proposed coal terminal would add at least $29 million to annual health costs in Newcastle. “A stronger national approach to air quality standards and their regulation would improve community health in the Hunter, potentially reducing the asthma attacks, hospital admissions and premature deaths attributable to current levels of air pollution,” said Dr Whelan.
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Coal and gas
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