Air watch project in Blue Mountains kicks off

Blue Mountains community volunteers are keen to help monitor air quality across the region

The project will provide a valuable picture of air quality over a 12-month period.

NSW EPA’s Regional Director Metropolitan Giselle Howard said the temporary Katoomba air quality monitoring station is being operated by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE)’s Science team and will measure fine particles PM and PM sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, ozone and meteorological parameters.

“In addition, 12 KOALA air quality sensors, operated by the Queensland University of Technology, are located in Katoomba, Springwood, Wentworth Falls (Boddington Hill) and Lithgow to provide indicative information on ambient air quality that will complement data from the Katoomba air quality monitoring station.”

Ms Howard said the project is run by the EPA in conjunction with a Steering Committee that includes a range of Blue Mountains community groups and volunteers, DPIE, Blue Mountains City and Lithgow councils, Doctors for the Environment, Western Sydney University and the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District.

“The project involves the collaboration of numerous experts in the air quality monitoring field including DPIE, Western Sydney University which will analyse the data and the Queensland University of Technology which will run the KOALA sensors, as well as local schools, business and community volunteers who are hosting and helping to maintain the KOALA sensors,” Ms Howard said.

More information

• Further information about the Air Watch project
• Air quality from the 12 KOALA sensors
• NSW Health information on air and ways to minimise the impacts