Published Friday, 21 December, 2007 at 09:00 AM
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation
The Honourable Andrew McNamara
EPA implements long-term air monitoring for Townsville
The Environmental Protection Agency has installed the first of four new air monitoring stations in Townsville as part of its strategic long-term air quality monitoring program to assess impacts from urban and industrial growth in the region.
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation Andrew McNamara said the Townsville Dust Monitoring Program would investigate levels of common airborne pollutants, including dust, to ensure they were within acceptable levels.
“The EPA has recently commissioned a new air monitoring station at the Townsville Coast Guard, boosting the existing EPA monitoring network of three air stations in Townsville including stations at Pimlico, Townsville Port and Stuart,” Mr McNamara said.
“Three more air monitoring stations have been ordered and are scheduled for commissioning by the end of January 2008.
“These new air stations will increase the EPA air monitoring network in Townsville to seven air stations with the additional stations to be located at Yarrawonga, North Ward and South Townsville.”
Mr McNamara said the EPA had consulted with community members and air science experts to ensure the new air monitoring stations were placed in areas where residents were most concerned about dust levels.
“The four new air monitoring stations will operate for 12 months and will provide detailed information on Townsville’s air quality within the city area.”
EPA Director Air Sciences Unit David Wainwright said the monitoring program aimed to determine the level and composition of dust, including the analysis of heavy metals such as lead, zinc, cadmium, nickel and copper.
Mr Wainwright said live air monitoring results for the existing Pimlico, Townsville Port and Stuart air stations were already available on the EPA website at www.epa.qld.gov.au.
“The monitoring data from the new Townsville Coast Guard air station and the three stations to be commissioned in January would be available on the EPA website next year,” Mr Wainwright said.
"Total suspended particulate matter results from the air station located at the Townsville Coast Guard will be downloaded live to the EPA website.
“Metal concentrations from this site and the three additional sites will be downloaded when they have been analysed by an independent laboratory.
“The collection and analyses of metal concentration takes between four and six weeks to complete so the metal results will be downloaded monthly on to the EPA website.
“Monitoring results including metal concentrations will also be published in the EPA’s monthly air quality bulletin.”
Media contact: Emma Parnell 3336 8002
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation Andrew McNamara said the Townsville Dust Monitoring Program would investigate levels of common airborne pollutants, including dust, to ensure they were within acceptable levels.
“The EPA has recently commissioned a new air monitoring station at the Townsville Coast Guard, boosting the existing EPA monitoring network of three air stations in Townsville including stations at Pimlico, Townsville Port and Stuart,” Mr McNamara said.
“Three more air monitoring stations have been ordered and are scheduled for commissioning by the end of January 2008.
“These new air stations will increase the EPA air monitoring network in Townsville to seven air stations with the additional stations to be located at Yarrawonga, North Ward and South Townsville.”
Mr McNamara said the EPA had consulted with community members and air science experts to ensure the new air monitoring stations were placed in areas where residents were most concerned about dust levels.
“The four new air monitoring stations will operate for 12 months and will provide detailed information on Townsville’s air quality within the city area.”
EPA Director Air Sciences Unit David Wainwright said the monitoring program aimed to determine the level and composition of dust, including the analysis of heavy metals such as lead, zinc, cadmium, nickel and copper.
Mr Wainwright said live air monitoring results for the existing Pimlico, Townsville Port and Stuart air stations were already available on the EPA website at www.epa.qld.gov.au.
“The monitoring data from the new Townsville Coast Guard air station and the three stations to be commissioned in January would be available on the EPA website next year,” Mr Wainwright said.
"Total suspended particulate matter results from the air station located at the Townsville Coast Guard will be downloaded live to the EPA website.
“Metal concentrations from this site and the three additional sites will be downloaded when they have been analysed by an independent laboratory.
“The collection and analyses of metal concentration takes between four and six weeks to complete so the metal results will be downloaded monthly on to the EPA website.
“Monitoring results including metal concentrations will also be published in the EPA’s monthly air quality bulletin.”
Media contact: Emma Parnell 3336 8002