Air Watch:
monitoring air quality in the Blue Mountains
From the Blue Mountains Gazette by B C Lewis
"The first week of air quality testing in the Blue Mountains has begun, following an intensive community campaign
to make it happen."
Commissioned by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), the 12 month project - called Blue Mountains
and Lithgow Air Watch - started on Tuesday May 14 and will measure Katoomba's air quality every hour. There
are smaller sensors measuring air pollutants close to the highway at Springwood and Wentworth Falls,
as well as at Lithgow.
and Lithgow Air Watch - started on Tuesday May 14 and will measure Katoomba's air quality every hour. There
are smaller sensors measuring air pollutants close to the highway at Springwood and Wentworth Falls,
as well as at Lithgow.
NSW EPA regional director metropolitan, Giselle Howard, said it will provide a valuable picture of air quality.
The nearest NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) monitoring stations are at Bathurst and St Marys.
Wentworth Falls' air quality was briefly monitored (and cleared) for pollutants, including nitrogen dioxide and
sulphur dioxide, in 1988-89.
Wentworth Falls' air quality was briefly monitored (and cleared) for pollutants, including nitrogen dioxide and
sulphur dioxide, in 1988-89.
The move follows more than a year of campaigning by the Blue Mountains Unions and Community group,
who have been particularly concerned by the effects of uncovered coal being transported on the train line.
who have been particularly concerned by the effects of uncovered coal being transported on the train line.
Spokesman Peter Lammiman said the initiative "lays the foundation for ... near real time information about
local air quality".
local air quality".
"We look forward to working alongside community participants, the EPA and air quality experts. Fresh air is
one of the reasons so many people visit the world heritage-listed Blue Mountains ... through this project we
should begin to find out just how clean our air is."
one of the reasons so many people visit the world heritage-listed Blue Mountains ... through this project we
should begin to find out just how clean our air is."
Ms Howard said the temporary Katoomba air quality monitoring station, will be operated by OEH for 12 months
and measure carbon monoxide, fine particles (PM 10 and PM 2.5), sulfur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, carbon
ozone, visibility and meteorology.
and measure carbon monoxide, fine particles (PM 10 and PM 2.5), sulfur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, carbon
ozone, visibility and meteorology.
"In addition, 12 portable solar powered Koala (knowing our ambient local air quality) sensors, operated by the
Queensland University of Technology, are located in Katoomba, Springwood, Wentworth Falls (Bodington Hill)
and Lithgow to provide indicative information on ambient air quality that will complement data from the
Katoomba station."
Queensland University of Technology, are located in Katoomba, Springwood, Wentworth Falls (Bodington Hill)
and Lithgow to provide indicative information on ambient air quality that will complement data from the
Katoomba station."
The project is run with the help of Mountains community groups, OEH, Blue Mountains and Lithgow councils,
Doctors for the Environment, Western Sydney University and the local health district. Schools, business and
community volunteers are hosting the sensors. The Katoomba station is on property owned by Air Services
Australia. In the first few days the readings were either good or very good. "
Link to EPA Media Release.
Doctors for the Environment, Western Sydney University and the local health district. Schools, business and
community volunteers are hosting the sensors. The Katoomba station is on property owned by Air Services
Australia. In the first few days the readings were either good or very good. "
Link to EPA Media Release.
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