Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) will donate more than $5000 worth of hand-held air monitoring equipment to Latrobe Valley community group, Voices of the Valley (VoV) today.
EPA Applied Sciences Group Manager, Dr Anthony Boxshall, said the donation would allow group members to actively participate in protecting their own local environment.
“As part of the Hazelwood recovery effort, EPA developed a Citizen Science program that allows members of the community to monitor water and air quality and share their findings,” Dr Boxshall said.
“Several Latrobe Valley residents have taken up the opportunity to learn how to monitor and protect their environment, which is a fantastic outcome. Providing Voices of the Valley with an air monitoring device is another step in this direction.
“We know that the group is very interested in environmental protection so it’s a great opportunity for EPA to keep building its relationships with the local community.
“Group members will receive training on how to use the device at EPA’s Traralgon office today so they are confident and have the right resources to effectively monitor air data.”
The handheld device can detect Nitrogen Dioxide, Sulfur Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide and Volatile Organic Compounds.
The donation comes as the State Government last week announced a $1.35 million funding commitment to continue EPA’s citizen science program and for an additional 12 months of expanded air quality monitoring in the Latrobe Valley.
EPA, as the state’s environmental regulator, monitors air quality to ensure that Victorians’ health and wellbeing are maintained.
EPA captures information on Victoria’s general air quality and pollution by a sophisticated network of strategically placed data collecting instruments – both fixed and mobile – across the state.
The network’s versatility allows EPA to deploy and adapt the most appropriate mix of air monitoring equipment to different locations at any given time to meet changing needs.