Published Wednesday, 23 January, 2008 at 02:29 PM
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation
The Honourable Andrew McNamara
Locations proposed for Gladstone’s expanded air monitoring network
The proposed number and location of additional air quality monitoring stations for Gladstone will be put to a joint meeting of the community and industry reference groups in Gladstone tonight.
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, Andrew McNamara, said it’s proposed to increase the number of monitoring stations from four to seven as a key element of the Queensland Government’s Clean and Healthy Air for Gladstone Project.
“Stations include six fixed and one mobile station, although the fixed stations can be relocated if necessary to suit changing monitoring requirements,” Mr McNamara said.
“Proposed locations include Boyne-Tannum Sands, South Gladstone, Clinton, Auckland/Barney Point, Yarwun and Targinie, as well as the mobile station.
”The proposed locations have been identified by the project team, based on a range of factors including urban density, industry location and prevailing weather conditions.
“However, the project team wants to provide the community and industry reference groups with the opportunity for input in keeping with previous assurances for transparency and community involvement.
“The monitoring stations will incorporate new, relocated and existing equipment.
“The cost of installing and operating the monitoring network together with the analysis of emissions will be more than $1 million.
“An inventory of potential air pollutants in Gladstone is being prepared and referenced against known medical conditions caused by pollutants.
Mr McNamara said a follow-up joint reference group meeting early next month will consider the list of chemicals and particles proposed to be measured.
“The enhanced air monitoring system will measure known pollutants that impact on the health and well being of the people of Gladstone,” Mr McNamara said.
“Environmental Protection Agency scientists in Gladstone and Brisbane are currently undertaking a comprehensive benchmarking exercise to collate air emission data from similar industries in Australia and around the world.
“This data will be used to determine whether industries in Gladstone are operating at world’s best practice to ensure the health and safety of the people who live in the area.
“The combined efforts of the Environmental Protection Agency and Queensland Health mean that the Gladstone area will have a state of the art air quality monitoring system and a comprehensive approach to management of emissions for current and new industries.”
Mr McNamara said that the community was being consulted at each step of the process via the community and industry reference groups as well as through regular public forums.
The EPA has maintained a network of air quality monitoring stations in the Gladstone area for 28 years to measure concentrations of key pollutants likely to be influencing local air quality.
The growth and development of industry in the Gladstone area in recent years means that the location of the monitoring stations and the types of pollutants being monitored need to be reviewed.
Media contact: Peter McCarthy 3336 8004
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, Andrew McNamara, said it’s proposed to increase the number of monitoring stations from four to seven as a key element of the Queensland Government’s Clean and Healthy Air for Gladstone Project.
“Stations include six fixed and one mobile station, although the fixed stations can be relocated if necessary to suit changing monitoring requirements,” Mr McNamara said.
“Proposed locations include Boyne-Tannum Sands, South Gladstone, Clinton, Auckland/Barney Point, Yarwun and Targinie, as well as the mobile station.
”The proposed locations have been identified by the project team, based on a range of factors including urban density, industry location and prevailing weather conditions.
“However, the project team wants to provide the community and industry reference groups with the opportunity for input in keeping with previous assurances for transparency and community involvement.
“The monitoring stations will incorporate new, relocated and existing equipment.
“The cost of installing and operating the monitoring network together with the analysis of emissions will be more than $1 million.
“An inventory of potential air pollutants in Gladstone is being prepared and referenced against known medical conditions caused by pollutants.
Mr McNamara said a follow-up joint reference group meeting early next month will consider the list of chemicals and particles proposed to be measured.
“The enhanced air monitoring system will measure known pollutants that impact on the health and well being of the people of Gladstone,” Mr McNamara said.
“Environmental Protection Agency scientists in Gladstone and Brisbane are currently undertaking a comprehensive benchmarking exercise to collate air emission data from similar industries in Australia and around the world.
“This data will be used to determine whether industries in Gladstone are operating at world’s best practice to ensure the health and safety of the people who live in the area.
“The combined efforts of the Environmental Protection Agency and Queensland Health mean that the Gladstone area will have a state of the art air quality monitoring system and a comprehensive approach to management of emissions for current and new industries.”
Mr McNamara said that the community was being consulted at each step of the process via the community and industry reference groups as well as through regular public forums.
The EPA has maintained a network of air quality monitoring stations in the Gladstone area for 28 years to measure concentrations of key pollutants likely to be influencing local air quality.
The growth and development of industry in the Gladstone area in recent years means that the location of the monitoring stations and the types of pollutants being monitored need to be reviewed.
Media contact: Peter McCarthy 3336 8004