An installed Purple Air Quality Monitor.

30 April 2025

 

FUTURE Sooner lobbied the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to make the PurpleAir Sensors available for free. Residents living around Vales Point and Eraring coal-fired power stations immediately began installing them.

 

“There are two families that have immediately installed these air monitors in their backyards. One family at Mannering Park and one at Lake Munmorah," said Future Sooner spokesperson, Gary Blaschke OAM.

 

“The Developing Dreams Early Learning Centre at Chain Valley Bay has also installed a monitor,"

 

“There are currently 11 of these dust monitors around Lake Macquarie and Budgewoi Lakes and now the EPA is inviting members of the public to become citizen scientists and install their own PurpleAir Sensors, something Future Sooner is certainly encouraging.

 

The EPA said that the sensors count the number of particles in the air in a range of sizes that are then used to estimate the amounts of PM1.0, PM2.5 and PM10 in micrograms per cubic metre. Those measurements can finally be used to estimate the PM2.5 Air Quality Index.

 

According to the Australian Government’s own data PM2.5 is the most hazardous pollution to health.

 

The particulate measurements the PurpleAir Sensors cannot be used to change legislation. Currently there are only three air quality monitoring sites where data can be used officially: Morriset, the Lower Hunter and Central Coast. None of these locations is ideal.

 

The EPA acknowledges that ‘the main sources of air emissions in the Lake Macquarie-Wyong area are from electricity generation plants at Eraring and Vales Point (and previously Lake Munmorah)/.

 

“The NSW Government and the EPA are fully aware of the government data that shows above-average rates of cancers, asthma and other respiratory conditions directly and irrefutably related to the nearby power stations and ash dams," said Mr Blaschke.

 

“Yet, one month since Future Sooner launched the Untold Stories report into the well-documented health impacts of living near these power stations and their ash dams, the government has read the recommendations and done nothing.

 

“If you’re living near Vales Point or Eraring, I’d happily wager you know neighbours, friends or family members who have asthma, lung diseases, even multiple cancers.

 

“While the government continues to allow these privately-owned power stations to pollute your air, and drags its feet on transitioning to clean energy and fixing the coal mess, we’re encouraging residents to take action.

 

“A purple fix is not enough, the more residents who ask for the PurpleAir Sensors, the stronger the message to the EPA and politicians is that we are not prepared to live with unknown and undocumented amounts of air pollution.

 

Future Sooner is currently conducting an Untold Stories Roadshow – visiting local groups and organisations to present the findings from its Citizens’ Inquiry into the health impacts of coal-fired power stations. For more information email Future Sooner futuresoonernsw@gmail.com

 

If you would also like a PurpleAir Sensor Future Sooner can help you liaise with the EPA. Email Future Sooner here.

 

"Together we can colour the Central Coast purple and make the government guarantee that the air we breathe is safe," said Mr Blaschke.

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