Air quality

Outdoor air quality is measured by the level of a set of identified air pollutants. Air pollutants range from dust particles, which can be seen by the naked eye, to gases and microscopic particles.

The main sources of air pollution in Lake Macquarie are coal-fired electricity generation, coal mining, and vehicle emissions. Air pollutants relevant to Lake Macquarie City include:

• carbon monoxide
• nitrogen dioxide
• particles with a diameter of 10 micrometres or less (PM10)
• particles of 2.5 micrometres in diameter or less (PM2.5)
• sulphur dioxide
• total volatile organic compounds measured as atmospheric ozone.

Particulate matter with a diameter of 10 micrometres (about the one-fifth the diameter of a human hair) or less (PM10), and particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres (about one-twentieth the size of a human hair) or less (PM2.5) are the most common pollutants in the Hunter Valley.

PM10 particles generally include pollen, mould spores and material that has been manually crushed into a dust. PM2.5 particles generally include particles from combustion processes - commonly from fires and power stations for example.

When operated efficiently, wood-fires are an excellent source of home heating and can be a relatively cheap form of home heating. A poorly operated wood-fired heater will use excessive firewood and can emit 100 times more smoke than a correctly operated wood-fired heater.

Council does receive complaints concerning the operation of wood burning heaters and appliances. While they are legal to use, inefficient operation by owners may cause smoke nuisance and excess emissions.

Here are six hot tips for operating a wood-fire in your home:

• Use only small logs of seasoned, untreated wood
• Store wood under cover in a dry, ventilated area
• Maintain a bright flame, never let your heater smoulder
• Increase the air supply if you see your chimney smoking
• Use several small logs rather than one large log
• Make sure your chimney is cleaned at least every two years.

The NSW EPA has published guidelines for the start-up and efficient use of wood burning heaters and appliances.

Council’s Control of Open Burning Policy details the criteria that must be met for approved open burning of dead and dry vegetative material, on parcels of land that meet the following criteria:

Parcels of land must be:

• greater than 4000m² in area and
• zoned E2-4-Environmental, RE2-Private Recreation, RU2-Rural Landscape, RU4-Primary Production Small Lots, or RU6-Transition under the Lake Macquarie Local Environmental Plan 2014.

In addition, the land manager must comply with the following conditions: 

1. An open fire must be at least 20 metres from any dwelling.
2. Adequate water supplies must be immediately on hand to extinguish the fire if required.
3. Adjacent property occupiers (or, if there are no occupiers, the owners) must be given 24 hours notice (verbal or written) of an intention to burn, unless specified otherwise in a Fire Permit.
4. An open fire must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times.
5. All combustible material within 4.5 metres of the fire must be removed.
6. Burning should only take place when weather conditions are suitable with winds under 15km/h and predicted to remain so.
7. Burning should not cause nuisance to neighbours or a smoke hazard to traffic.
8. The lighting of open fires is not permitted before sunrise or after sunset.
9. Activities must be undertaken in accordance with the NSW Rural Fire Service/Fire and Rescue NSW document “Standards for Pile Burning”.
10. Land managers/owners must notify their local RFS or the nearest NSW Fire Brigades station at least 24 hours before the fire is lit, unless specified otherwise in a Fire Permit.

 Notify RFS of your planned burn

Council permits are not required for open burning at applicable properties. However, for land in a rural fire district a fire permit is required from the Rural Fire Service during the bushfire danger period. In addition, for land in a fire district a fire permit is required from NSW Fire and Rescue all year round.

Further details are included in Council’s Control of Open Burning Policy.

We have been addressing local air quality issues through a range of initiatives, including air quality reports, modelling and mapping. We are also required to consider air quality reports during the Development Application assessment process.

A comprehensive review of local air quality, and Council's actions to address quality issues, is reported in the State of the Environment Report(PDF, 41MB).

Air pollution, including dust from commercial properties and work sites, suspicious odours, and other forms of pollution, can be reported to Council for investigation.

You can report an air pollution incident or lodge an odour complaint online or by contacting our Customer Service Centre on 4921 0333, Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm.

For after hours or emergency incidents, contact the EPA Pollution Hotline on 131 555.