Mackay Conservation Group goes national with coal dust concerns
On October 9, Mackay Conservation Group released their alarming report on the state of Mackay's air quality, to a national audience.
The report included comprehensive data analysis by MCG Co-ordinator Patricia Julien who examined State government air quality data from their monitoring station in West Mackay.
The Australian reported on the story: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/mackay-dust-pollution-hazardous-study/story-fn3dxiwe-1226735222051 .
The Mackay Conservation Group is calling for the Queensland government to suspend plans to expand coal ports and adjacent industrial hubs until a program to prevent coal dust from spreading outside the Hay Point port lands is implemented.
"We need better protections for the health of our community," Mrs Julien said.
"Respiratory and heart disease hospital admissions are linked to consistent exposure to air pollution."
- See more at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/mackay-dust-pollution-hazardous-study/story-fn3dxiwe-1226735222051#sthash.irjeJwl5.dpufThe Mackay Conservation Group is calling for the Queensland government to suspend plans to expand coal ports and adjacent industrial hubs until a program to prevent coal dust from spreading outside the Hay Point port lands is implemented.
"We need better protections for the health of our community," Mrs Julien said.
"Respiratory and heart disease hospital admissions are linked to consistent exposure to air pollution."
- See more at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/mackay-dust-pollution-hazardous-study/story-fn3dxiwe-1226735222051#sthash.irjeJwl5.dpufThe Mackay Conservation Group is calling for the Queensland government to suspend plans to expand coal ports and adjacent industrial hubs until a program to prevent coal dust from spreading outside the Hay Point port lands is implemented.
"We need better protections for the health of our community," Mrs Julien said.
"Respiratory and heart disease hospital admissions are linked to consistent exposure to air pollution."
- See more at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/mackay-dust-pollution-hazardous-study/story-fn3dxiwe-1226735222051#sthash.irjeJwl5.dpufThe Mackay Conservation Group is calling for the Queensland government to suspend plans to expand coal ports and adjacent industrial hubs until a program to prevent coal dust from spreading outside the Hay Point port lands is implemented.
"We need better protections for the health of our community," Mrs Julien said.
"Respiratory and heart disease hospital admissions are linked to consistent exposure to air pollution."
- See more at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/mackay-dust-pollution-hazardous-study/story-fn3dxiwe-1226735222051#sthash.irjeJwl5.dpufThe Mackay Conservation Group is calling for the Queensland government to suspend plans to expand coal ports and adjacent industrial hubs until a program to prevent coal dust from spreading outside the Hay Point port lands is implemented.
"We need better protections for the health of our community," Mrs Julien said.
"Respiratory and heart disease hospital admissions are linked to consistent exposure to air pollution."
- See more at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/mackay-dust-pollution-hazardous-study/story-fn3dxiwe-1226735222051#sthash.irjeJwl5.dpufAnd follow this link to download the report.
Air quality standards in Australia lag behind the rest of the world, which is why we need strong local voices to ensure the health of our community is protected. The picture below shows coal dust from a train that is coming in the ports at Hay Point.
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Submission on coal dust
Health impacts of air pollution
The people of the Mackay region face a huge expansion of coal ports at Hay Point and Abbot Point to become the largest coal export ports in the world. They will affect larger coastal populations more than in the past when they were much smaller.
Both coal and health monitoring standards and other requirements need to improve to prevent long-term social and natural capital losses and landscape scale pollution that will be permanent.
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UNESCO: Great Barrier Reef at risk from coal ports
The Daily Mercury reported on June 4 2013 that Australia only narrowly avoided having UNESCO rate the heritage listed Great Barrier Reef Marine Park labelled "in danger".
The finding is an indictment of the lack of adequate action by state and federal governments to properly protect the Reef.
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