Gunnedah and Narrabri Shire Councils have called for the immediate installation of an Air Quality Monitoring System similar to the Upper Hunter Air Quality Monitoring System, following further criticism of the present limited system by Mr James Whelan, a researcher with Environmental Justice Australia.

Gunnedah Shire Mayor, Owen Hasler, raised the matter in a Mayoral Minute at the August Ordinary Council meeting stating "Mr Whelan has analysed the last seven (7) months of air quality tracking data from the Maules Creek Whitehaven mine as well as the neighbouring Idemitsu Boggabri Coal mine and the results are concerning."

"Mr Whelan found evidence that little or no data had been collected on some days and for the period between May 23 to May 29, about 40 per cent of readings showed negative levels of PM 2.5 (a gauge of the amount of small particulates some 2.5 micrometers in diameter), which are known to lodge in people's lungs and potentially cause illness."

"During another five-day period in June, readings of the larger PM 10 particulates were also consistently negative, which Mr Whelan believes to be an impossibility."

"More disturbing was the fact that the data also included spikes to high levels of PM 10 concentrations, while 24 average PM 2.5 levels were at the maximum levels recommended by the Environment Minister last year."

"According to Mr Whelan, the data is wildly inaccurate causing serious questions to be asked about the actual levels of air pollution near the Maules Creek monitor and if these levels meet standards."

"It is time that the Government required the EPA and mining companies to install a system similar to that operating in the Upper Hunter," claimed Mayor Hasler.

"The new EPA Regional Director, Adam Gilligan, has been quoted by Fairfax media as suggesting that the present four (4) monitors in the Namoi area is a ‘interim solution' while it considers the feasibility of a public system as run in the Upper Hunter."

"However, of real concern is the fact that Mr Gilligan claims that the EPA does not presently have the funds to install the equipment despite the significant Royalties that the Government is receiving from the mines operating in the area,” concluded Mayor Hasler.

Gunnedah's call for such a system was supported by Narrabri Shire Mayor, Councillor Conrad Bolton who stated "Narrabri Shire Council has repeatedly stated that there is no reason why the health of residents in the Namoi Basin should have less priority than those people living in the Upper Hunter area of the state."

"Our residents feel that their health is as important as that of their colleagues in the Hunter Region.” 

“The justification for a similar system is supported by the same reasoning and evidence that saw the installation of the real time, independently operated air quality monitoring system in the Upper Hunter.”

“Whether it's one person or a hundred, the State Government has an obligation to the surrounding Communities to ensure health and well-being is maintained on the back of approving developments of State significance.”

"We are pleased to be working with Gunnedah Shire in this regard and it will be a priority for our Councils in forthcoming meetings with our respective local members and Minister Speakman," concluded Mayor Bolton.