Mines throughout the Hunter Valley are suppressing dust and minimising impacts on local air quality, according to the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA).
It follows the organisation’s recently-completed Bust the Dust campaign.
Launched on 1 September, the NSW EPA’s annual crusade involved 34 “surprise” inspections of the region’s 12 open cut operations to assess compliance with dust mitigation requirements.
The Hunter experienced a wet start to spring, with conditions shifting into hotter and drier weather at the beginning of December, including several extreme fire days.
But, local reports made to the NSW EPA concerning dust and air quality concerns have halved since 2023.
That appears to reflect more favourable environmental conditions and improved operating standards.
NSW EPA director of operations David Gathercole said the results were a good outcome for mines and the community alike.
“We know people in the Hunter are concerned about the potential impacts of particulate pollution… and we take these issues seriously,” he explained.
“That’s why we ramped up our fifth Bust the Dust campaign.
“We increased the use of unannounced inspections, using our powers of entry and visiting mines on weekends and evenings.
“The NSW EPA found that the sites had appropriate dust mitigation measures in place and were responsive to changing weather conditions.
“We also witnessed mine workers using slower vehicle speeds, operating at lower elevations and standing down equipment during unfavourable weather, which is what we want to see to ensure the community remains protected.”
In 2025, the NSW EPA announced it had entered a legally-binding agreement with Warkworth mine, requiring upgrades and for it to pay $120,000 to a local environmental project after non-compliances were found in the 2023 Bust the Dust campaign.
Residents can report concerns about dust emissions to the Environment Line on 131 555 or via email at [email protected].
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