Upper Hunter air quality

The EPA is working with industry and the community to help reduce particle emissions in the Upper Hunter, especially emissions from coal mines.

Hunter Valley Annual Air Quality

The Office of Environment and Heritage provides annual summary analysis of air quality data from the 43 station NSW air quality monitoring network and an annual report on the Upper Hunter Air Quality Monitoring Network. Find out more

Upper Hunter Fine Particle Characterisation Study

The Upper Hunter Fine Particle Characterisation Study carried out in 2012 and 2013 identified and ranked the major components of PM2.5 particles in the Muswellbrook and Singleton airsheds. The study also investigated seasonal changes in PM2.5 particles in the Upper Hunter.

The project was jointly funded by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage and NSW Health, with co-investment from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) as the lead researcher.

The study found that likely sources and components for PM2.5 particles in Singleton included

  • secondary sulfate from industry (20%)
  • industry-aged sea salt (18%)
  • vehicles and industry (17%)
  • wood smoke (14%)
  • soil (12%)
  • smoke from bush fires and controlled burning (8%)
  • fresh sea salt (8%)
  • Secondary nitrate from industry (3%)

Likely sources and components for PM2.5 particles in Muswellbrook included

  • wood smoke (30%)
  • secondary sulfate from industry (17%)
  • industry-aged sea salt (13%)
  • smoke from bush fires and controlled burning (12%)
  • soil (11%)
  • vehicles and industry (8%)
  • secondary nitrate from industry (6%)
  • fresh sea salt (3%)

Seasonal variations in the contributions to PM2.5 concentrations at Singleton and Muswellbrook showed that wood smoke dominated at both sites during the winter, while contributions from secondary sulfate and industry-aged sea salt increased during summer months.

The Upper Hunter Air Particles Action Plan (PDF 1.49MB) outlines a range of measures in place or being developed to improve air quality in the Upper Hunter. Measures include actions to

  • engage communities
  • improve planning decisions
  • reduce particle emissions from coal mines and other sources
  • conduct monitoring and research to inform future actions

In 2014, the EPA commissioned development of the Upper Hunter Air Quality Particle Model (PDF 4.6MB) in partnership with the Department of Planning and Environment and NSW Trade and Investment – Division of Resources and Energy.  

The study

  • investigated the contribution of human-made particle emissions to annual average particle concentrations in Singleton and Muswellbrook
  • estimated emission projections and reductions to inform development of programs for reducing long-term average particle concentrations in Singleton and Muswellbrook
  • modelled primary particle emissions from all sectors in the Air Emissions Inventory for the Greater Metropolitan Region in NSW including industrial, commercial, domestic, biogenic and geogenic (natural) sources; on-road mobile sources such as motor vehicles; and off-road mobile sources such as construction and mining equipment
  • focused on characterising the emissions from coal mining, non-road diesel sources, domestic wood heaters and electric power generation, which collectively represent most PM2.5 emissions in the Upper Hunter region

The study results for Muswellbrook showed that wood heaters were the largest primary human-made contributor to annual average PM2.5 (17%) followed by coal mining (12%), non-road diesel sources (5%) and on-road mobile sources (2%).

The study results for Singleton showed that coal mines were the largest primary human-made contributor to annual average PM2.5 (15%) followed by wood heaters (14%), non-road diesel sources (4%) and on-road mobile sources (2%).

The study

  • was peer reviewed by independent international experts
  • compared base year results with existing monitoring data from the Government’s Upper Hunter Air Quality Monitoring Network to ensure results were within acceptable bounds

The Government has used the information in the study to help inform actions to reduce fine particle emissions in the Hunter Valley.  Actions include wood smoke abatement programs and emission controls for diesel plant and equipment.

The Upper Hunter Air Quality Monitoring Network

  • is a network of high quality ambient-air monitoring sites situated at strategic locations around Upper Hunter mining areas and populated centres, including Muswellbrook and Singleton
  • continuously measures dust particulates in the air at up to 14 sites throughout the region
  • is hosted on the OEH website but regulated by the EPA 

The Upper Hunter Air Quality Advisory Committee comprises 14 representatives from industry, government and the community to ensure a balanced approach to the operation of the air quality monitoring network and the management of regional air quality issues.

In 2013, Chapter 5A was inserted into the Protection of the Environment Operations (General) Regulation 2009 (General Regulation). Chapter 5A provides for the ongoing funding of the Upper Hunter Air Quality Monitoring Network by requiring Upper Hunter licence holders for electricity generation and coal mining to pay an environmental monitoring levy. The levy comprises

  • an annual levy to be paid for each 12-month levy period beginning 1 July
  • a construction levy (if any)

For the EPA to calculate the annual levy payable, each Upper Hunter licence holder must provide data to the EPA in accordance with clause 79I (1) of the General Regulation. The required data moved must be calculated in accordance with the Direction setting out how emissions of particulate matter, oxides of nitrogen and sulphur dioxide are to be calculated and how the amount of material moved is to be expressed and calculated (PDF 108KB).

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