Air quality in the Tamworth region could generally be described as good. Apart from short term air quality problems (smoke from bushfires, or localised smoke from wood fires, or odours from various sources) the region’s residents don’t have to deal with serious air quality issues.
This is seen in the lack of complaints regarding the clarity of the atmosphere in the region.
What are the main sources of air pollution in the Tamworth region
The major causes of air pollution are:
- vehicle emissions
- backyard burning
- smoke from solid fuel stoves and heaters
- dust from unsealed roads
- extractive and other industries
- emissions from various licensed premises
What is the NSW Action for Air Plan
Everyone is aware of the importance of clear air for life, and this has prompted the need for a comprehensive plan to safeguard this.
The NSW Government has combined scientific, health, urban planning and economic expertise with feedback from the community, industry and government to produce this plan. Everybody is being asked to take some responsibility.
The Action for Air Plan NSW was developed specifically for the metropolitan areas, but many of the actions apply to the whole of the State.
What are the NSW Air Quality Regulations
The Protection of the Environment (Clean Air) Regulation was introduced in 2002. The enforcement of this regulation is undertaken by Council’s Environmental Health Officers. All City and Rural Fire Brigades are aware of the regulation and have worked closely with Council. Backyard burning is closely controlled within the Tamworth Regional Council area.
If you need further information regarding the regulations please call Council’s Customer Service Centre on (02) 6767 5555.
What is the Local Government Air Quality Toolkit
The Local Government Air Quality Toolkit has been developed by the NSW Government as a response to the many requests from Council officers for authoritative information and guidance on air pollution issues.
The Toolkit contains information on:
- air pollution, its sources and impacts
- the regulatory framework for protecting air quality in NSW
- general information about air quality management procedures and technologies
- specific guidelines for managing a number of air polluting activities identified by Council officers as priority issues
Does Tamworth produce any air monitoring data for our region
The Tamworth Air Quality Monitoring Station produces data which is available throughout the year. Please Note: that this website is only updated a few times each year.