Local government air quality toolkit

The Local government air quality toolkit provides information and guidance to help local councils manage air quality matters in their local government areas.

The Local government air quality toolkit (the Toolkit) primarily focuses on prevention and management of exposure to noxious air emissions that directly impact human health and the environment. It does not cover the reduction of greenhouse gases, which is largely addressed by the NSW Government through the Net Zero Plan.

The Toolkit was updated in 2023–24 by the Air Policy Unit in the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water in collaboration with the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure; NSW Health; Local Government NSW; the NSW Environment Protection Authority; local councils and air quality consultants (Zephyr Consulting and EMM Consulting).

The updated Toolkit provides contemporary easy-to-access information about air quality management. It includes 4 core modules, 14 guidance notes, 4 visual guides, a practical resource pack and a glossary.

View from a plane flying over the Blue Mountains. Smoke from hazard reduction burns is visible in valleys with the dark green bush of the mountains rising above the smoke haze.

Module 1: the science of air quality

Find out about the science of air quality with this comprehensive 6-part module.

Find out more

Aerial view of Goat Island – Me-mel in the foreground with the city of Sydney on the skyline behind. The blue water of Sydney Harbour surrounds the island.

Module 2: legislation and policy framework

Understand the legislative and policy frameworks for managing air quality.

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Environment and Heritage DustWatch monitoring station in Gunnedah, NSW

Module 3: air pollution control techniques

Learn about current air pollution control techniques.

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A grassy field in the foreground with a line of wooden fences posts running horizontally across the image. Behind the fence is another open grassy field and at the back of that is a large pile of timber. There are green trees and bushes behind the timber pile.

Module 4: practical regulation of air pollution

Understand the practical regulatory options to manage air pollution.

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A car on a dirt area in front and to the side of a house has been sprayed with white paint. The car is facing the camera and its roof and bonnet are covered with plastic. A red hose spirals on the ground to the front and left of the car

Resource pack

Conducting an investigation or responding to a complaint? Our checklists and practical advice can help.

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A hills hoist the foreground with the top of a dark brown fence behind it and behind that the pitched roof of a house in with smoke billowing across it. A chimney pipe rise on the far side of the roof with smoke coming out of it. An antenna stands to the left of the chimney with dark grey clouds behind. The light of the sun is coming through the clouds at the top of the image.

Guidance notes and visual guides

Our industry specific notes and guides explain how to manage air quality issues.

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View from above of a bushfire. White smoke billows up towards the camera casting a shadow to the right over brown-green bush, which surrounds the fire on all sides.

Glossary

Search our glossary for definitions of air quality terms.

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Note: The guidance provided is framed in terms of the broader context of local government administration. It is recognised that each council has its own procedures and internal administrative policies for processing development consent applications and dealing with key industries and businesses.

The case studies, checklists, example operational and control recommendations provided throughout the technical guidance notes and resource pack in the Toolkit are for illustrative purposes and include information to help councils regulate in a fair, consistent and transparent way. Compliance with the Toolkit may not be possible or appropriate in particular cases. Readers should not rely on the Toolkit as indicating the procedure that appropriate regulatory authorities, authorised officers and enforcement officers will follow in all cases. This Toolkit does not cover all regulatory tools under key environment protection legislation and is not a substitute for a thorough understanding of the legislation that council officers administer, for appropriate training or for the need to obtain councils’ own legal advice.