NSW Labor has challenged Upper Hunter MP Michael Johnsen to take action to reduce air pollution in the region.
Opposition leader Jodi McKay, shadow environment minister Kate Washington and shadow minister for the Hunter Clayton Barr met with residents and local government representatives in Singleton and Muswellbrook on Tuesday to discuss the impact of poor air quality in the Upper Hunter.
Alerts for poor air quality in the region have doubled compared to the same period in 2018.
Ms McKay said Labor backed calls for a detailed plan to address the cumulative effects of air pollution as a result of open cut mines in the area.
"As a Leader from the Hunter, I know mining underpins the local economy, however community health concerns are serious and valid and their concerns cannot be ignored" Ms McKay said.
Labor raised concerns about Upper Hunter air quality in Parliament last week using Question Time to ask the premier whether she would come up with a plan to deal with the cumulative effects of air pollution in the Upper Hunter.
"Michael Johnsen refuses to admit there is a problem in his community with air quality - locals know it, and local government knows it yet the local member doesn't want to know," Ms McKay said.
"When air pollution increases, the quality of life decreases and government must step up and deal with the issue," she said.
Mr Johnsen said air pollution levels were generally higher this year due to increased dust coming from drought affected regions and bushfire smoke.
"In the Upper Hunter, the NSW Government has worked with the community, miners and power generators to establish the Upper Hunter Air Quality Monitoring Network," he said.
Mr Johnsen said the NSW Environment Protection Authority had a series of plans to address air pollution including 'Operation Bust the Dust' which is working to reduce mine dust on days when high levels of dust are likely.
"The EPA uses drones to visually confirm that mines are doing everything they can to minimise their dust. To date during this Spring campaign, all mines have been implementing proper controls," he said.
He said the government would continue to take regulatory action where mines fail to minimise their dust emissions in accordance with their licences.
"With severe drought conditions and loss of vegetation in many parts of NSW and beyond, and very low soil moisture levels, we are experiencing high levels of dust from non-mining sources which will impact our air quality, he said.
"As severe drought continues and the availability of water for mine dust suppression is compromised, dust impacts from mining, and mines ability to rehabilitate exposed areas will be increasingly difficult."
