The third and final co-design panel session to develop a new air quality monitoring model for the Latrobe Valley will be held tomorrow night.
Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) is working with a panel of Latrobe Valley residents to co-design a new air monitoring network.
EPA Applied Sciences Group Manager, Anthony Boxshall said this ensured the community and EPA had an equal say about the future of air monitoring in the Latrobe Valley.
“Since September, the panel - with support from EPA and other air monitoring experts - has been looking at ways to improve the way air quality is monitored in the Latrobe Valley,” Dr Boxshall said.
“Earlier sessions have focussed on the various air monitoring options, what can and should be measured, how to communicate information and costs involved in setting up and running different types of air monitoring networks.”
“Tomorrow night’s session will start with six groups each developing a model which aims to answer the question: ‘What is the best way to monitor air quality in the Latrobe Valley, with the resources EPA has allocated until 2020?’.”
“These models will be discussed with EPA’s air monitoring experts, who will also be developing network models for community members to view as part of the process.”
“By the end of the night, using of all the shared knowledge and experience in the room, the panel will produce a map of their preferred model for the Latrobe Valley’s future air monitoring network.”
“The aim is to ensure EPA’s monitoring network delivers the best representation of air quality for the community.”
EPA is committed to implementing the co-design panel’s preferred air monitoring model. This may require further consultation with the community to work through aspects of the preferred model as it is rolled out by EPA.
EPA will publish the final outcome decided on by the panel on its webpage: epa.vic.gov/LVAir
EPA anticipates the new air monitoring network in the Latrobe Valley will be established during 2017 and 2018.
Further information about the co-design process can be found at:
http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/our-work/programs/latrobe-valley-air-monitoring/latrobe-valley-air-monitoring-codesign