Periods of poor air quality are likely in Brooklyn today (Monday) through until the mid-to-late afternoon.
The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting strong northerly winds today until a south-westerly change arrives later this afternoon. Northerly winds are often associated with poor air quality in Brooklyn.
Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has asked industry to undertake appropriate actions to mitigate dust raised from sites. Check EPA’s air quality forecasts at www.epa.vic.gov.au/our-work/monitoring-the-environment/air-quality-bulletins
The alert comes as three PM10 air quality exceedances were recorded in Brooklyn last week. This followed improved air quality over the last 12 months and a 70-day period without an exceedance.
This brings the total number of PM10 exceedances for the year to 14, nine over the national standard of less than five exceedances per year; 25 exceedances were recorded for the same period last year.
EPA has conducted 56 inspections of industrial facilities in the Brooklyn Precinct this financial year, and currently has 23 notices on industrial facilities in the precinct relating to the control of dust emissions.
These exceedances are a reminder poor air quality in the area remains an issue and reinforces the significance of the recent State Government commitment of $1.85m to fix the two unsealed roads.