Upper Hunter communities could be subjected to even greater levels of pollution in the next decade due to the continued expansion of the coalmining, a new report says. With coal production predicted to grow at 2per cent a year for the next 20 years, some fear their communities will become uninhabitable.
The international best practice study calls for more stringent pollution controls to protect Upper Hunter communities.
‘‘Growth in coal production is expected in all NSW coalfields over the medium term and, with current emission controls, this could lead to higher ambient concentrations of particulate matter in populated areas such as Muswellbrook and Singleton and also in smaller towns such as Camberwell in the Hunter,’’ the report says.
Camberwell resident Deidre Olofsson said it was unlikely the historic village could withstand further pressure from the mining industry.
‘‘They will wipe us off the map; it’s that simple,’’ she said. ‘‘I doubt there will be any other industry other than mining left in the Hunter in 20 years.’’
The report, prepared for the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, found the government’s regulatory regime for the mining industry to be ‘‘very transparent’’.
It also found mines had made significant progress in the reduction of pollution in recent years, but more was needed.
‘‘Overall coal mines have adopted many elements of best practice. However, no mine has completely implemented best practice across the full range of activities,’’ the report says.
The largest source of PM10 (particulate matter 10 micrometres or less in diameter) is coal haulage trucks travelling on unpaved roads (40per cent), followed by wind erosion of exposed areas and stockpiles (27per cent).
The report estimated that the consistent application of best practice particulate control measures would result in a 49per cent reduction in PM10 emissions.
Singleton Shire Healthy Environment Group member Carol Russell said the practice of advance land clearing for future mining was in need of urgent reform.
‘‘They [the mines] are clearing out massive amounts of land way in advance of what’s needed,’’ Ms Russell said.
‘‘It generates an enormous amount of dust.’’
Ms Russell said the effectiveness of the government’s new Upper Hunter dust monitoring network had been compromised because there was no national measuring standard for PM2.5 particles.
‘‘We are still behind the times and community expectations in relation to monitoring,’’ she said.
‘‘The community is now talking about the impact of PM1 particles.’’
A Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water spokeswoman said the mining industry would be required to improve dust management practices.
This would include attaching pollution reduction programs on mine licences that would require site-specific best-management practice reviews to identify and then implement cost-effective actions to mitigate dust emissions, with priority given to the major emitters.
All dust management plans would be reviewed with a focus on air quality monitoring, effective dust control systems, revegetation and rehabilitation, and adaptive management.
The spokeswoman said the department would consider additional measures following closure of the comments period for report, which is open until February 7.
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