EPA is conducting monitoring of air quality in the Gippsland area, with a fixed air monitoring station in Traralgon which monitors fine particles 24 hours a day.
For the duration of the bushfires and subsequent fire at the Hazelwood mine, EPA also has two particulate monitors in Morwell, one at Hourigan Road and the other near the lawn bowls club.
They are measuring visibility, PM10, PM2.5 and also Ozone, Nitrogen Dioxide and Sulfur Dioxide.
Monitoring is conducted at these sites because they best represent the areas of the town that could experience the most impact from the mine fire.
In addition EPA has a carbon monoxide (CO) monitor on the Hazelwood mine boundary and is undertaking hand held monitoring in the community.
Our CO monitoring is in conjunction with that done by emergency crews, providing a very broad picture of what we’re dealing with, which is being fed back to the community by both the Department of Health and CFA.
All smoke including bushfire smoke can be harmful for your health. EPA health advice on bushfire smoke can be found here.
Department of Health advice can be found here.