Amelie Vanderstock from Leard Forest Research Node presents findings from community’s field studies at Boggabri and Maules Creek
A public meeting on air pollution at Boggabri Public School last Thursday heard the NSW Environmental Protection Authority reveal that the introduction of a regional air quality monitoring scheme similar to the Upper Hunter faces potentially lengthy delays.
Community members from Boggabri, Maules Creek and as far away as Breeza, heard the Director of Hunter EPA Karen Marler and Manager of Armidale Region EPA Lindsay Fulloon describe the problem of apportioning the cost of funding such a scheme, which in the Upper Hunter is funded by a levy on the coal mines’ Environmental Licence.
One of 3 coal companies active in the region Whitehaven Coal, which operates 5 mines in the Namoi region, stands in the way of an industry-funded scheme like Upper Hunter, pushing for the NSW Government to publicly fund it, which the Government has repeatedly stated it cannot afford.
Attending the air pollution public meeting were L-R: Sally Hunter, Secretary, People for the Plains; Pam Barrett, Narrabri Local Health Committee; Amelie Vanderstock and Petra Liverani
The meeting was organised by the Leard Forest Research Node, a volunteer community science group operating in Boggabri and Maules Creek which presented some of its own findings on air pollution in the region. Key results from Honours research by Leard Forest Research Node member Amelie Vanderstock challenges claims from some mining industry sources that mining is not the major contributor to elevated particulate matter levels in the area.
“Deposited dust on plant leaves increased significantly with proximity to the Maules Creek Mine. We found these results from studies on tomato plants up to 12km from the mine overburden,” said Ms Vanderstock, a doctoral candidate at the University of Sydney.
The group calls for the Vickery mine proposal to be put on hold until the EPA implements a comprehensive monitoring program of the Namoi region to establish whether air pollution from coal mines and coal trains is already at harmful levels. Whilst Whitehaven opposes Office of Environment & Heritage monitoring, local environmental research has revealed that the company’s own self-reporting is not accurate*.(*see Further Reading below)
Dust monitoring on coal-mine afflicted Maules Creek farm, L-R James Gilronan, Nick Sun, Tom Mullaney and Amelie Vanderstock
The community group also conducted 24-hour monitoring at Boggabri train station. Dust pollution from the railway line is a source of deep worry to local doctors and community, especially with the prospect of Whitehaven’s nearby proposed Vickery megamine. Deadly particle pollution increases as uncovered coal trains pass through population centres like Boggabri and Gunnedah.
Newcastle GP Dr Ben Ewald, from Doctors for the Environment Australia who was a speaker at the event said: “The EPA should focus its attention on doing its job of investigating and prosecuting environmental offences, not economics.”
Idemitsu Resources which also operates a mine in the area has told community members it will not stand in the way of an industry funded, OEH operated air monitoring scheme in the Namoi Valley.
Further reading
“Wildly in error”: Dodgy coal pollution data fans demand for independent control, Peter Hannam, Sydney Morning Herald, 22 August 2016
Namoi Valley mine dust monitoring shows negative data, Jamieson Murphy, Northern Daily Leader, 19 November 2017
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