Summer air monitored by SES

HEADING into another long, hot and dry summer, the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has said their priority is to “detect and provide an early warning against poor air quality.”

Having seen a major fire in Buninyong and Scotsburn last week, EPA representative, John Rees said the community needs to be aware of the health risks that come from smoke affected air.

“EPA has refined its emergency planning to better support first response agencies including SES units in Ballarat which now have a mobile air monitor,” Mr Rees said.

EPA Chief Environmental Scientist, Dr Andrea Hinwood said these units will be deployed by the State Emergency Service and will keep communities safer.

“Having the units at SES sites around the state will give us greater capacity to respond quickly and provide real time data,” she said.

“The air monitors will record levels of what is known as PM2.5, which are small particles found in smoke that can affect people’s health.”

“The higher the reading, the more particles and the greater risk to health,” Dr Hinwood said.

The resulting data will better enable authorities to issue health warnings.

Ten mobile units have been placed across Victoria in high risk areas selected by the EPA and the SES.

Locations include Ballarat, Stawell and Hamilton.

“That will enable responses to smoke events to occur quickly,” Mr Rees said.