Mine Dust Monitoring

Note: dust monitor locations DG2 and DG5 are historic locations and are no longer monitored.

There are seven air quality monitors for PM₁₀ (coarse dust) and PM_2.5 (fine dust) located around the Mine Rehabilitation Project. The most recent daily averages are shown below and data collected over the previous week is presented in the graphs. The latest 24-hour average of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 is calculated and presented daily.

Dust arising from activities at the Hazelwood Rehabilitation Project is compared to the objectives set by the Environmental Reference Standard (ERS) for Ambient Air:

• Concentrations of PM₁₀ to be less than 50 µg/m³ as a 24-hour average
• Concentrations of PM_2.5 to be less than 25 µg/m³ as a 24-hour average

More information...

Demolition Dust Monitoring

Note: these monitors are in the same network as the demolition dust - hourly monitors and are numbered accordingly.

There are four air quality monitors for PM₁₀ (coarse dust) and PM_2.5 (fine dust) located around the former Hazelwood Power Station. The most recent daily averages are shown below and data collected over the previous week is presented in the graphs. The latest 24-hour averages of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 are calculated and presented daily. These values can be compared to the Environmental Reference Standard (ERS) for Ambient Air objectives. More information...

Demolition Dust Monitoring - 1-hour averages

Note: these monitors are in the same network as the demolition dust monitors and are numbered accordingly.

There are 16 air quality monitors for PM₁₀ (coarse dust) and PM_2.5 (fine dust) located around the former Hazelwood Power Station and Asbestos Containment Area. These devices monitor dust concentrations in real-time and are located close to activities that are associated with the demolition of the Station. These dust monitors typically operate for eight hours each day to coincide with demolition works. Live data is displayed in graphs below.

The data presented is measured in real-time throughout the day. The dust data presented is related to "nuisance dust" to workers and others in the vicinity of works. The measurements are not a 24-hour average. While there are no exposure standards for nuisance dust, as a reference Safe Work Australia have recommended exposure to dusts should be maintained below 10 mg/m³ (10,000 µg/m³), measured as inhalable dust. During demolition works, spikes in dust concentrations may occur due to works concentrated in a particular area of the demolition site. More information...

Asbestos Monitoring

There are approximately 20 monitors located around the former Hazelwood Power Station, along the Asbestos Containment Area haul routes and around the Asbestos Containment Area. These monitors have been installed to detect airborne fibres below three micrometres in width if emitted by the demolition activities of the Power Station. Each day, the monitors are deployed to 20 of the 32 locations, based on forecast daily weather conditions such as wind direction and strength. Each monitor collects a sample of dust, which is analysed for asbestos fibres.

The asbestos sampling and analysis results are reported as the number of fibres per millilitre of air sampled (fibres/mL). Results less than 0.01 fibres/mL are considered to be at background levels and reported as <0.01. Past dates can be selected to view historical data.

The asbestos analysis is conducted in two stages. First, a preliminary screening analysis detects the presence of airborne fibres less than three micrometres in width regardless of whether they are asbestos fibres. Second, if such fibres are detected, the samples are submitted to an external laboratory to confirm whether or not they contain asbestos fibres. A comment will be shown below these results to indicate whether they are preliminary or final. More information...

Following the conclusion of the friable asbestos processing works at the Hazelwood Power Block in January 2022, the daily monitoring and public updates of asbestos concentrations included in the ENGIE Hazelwood Air Quality website has ceased. In the event that further friable asbestos processing is required, monitoring shall be undertaken with the results being reported as received. No changes are proposed to monthly air monitoring of the Hazelwood landfills.

Disclaimer

Particulate matter data that is presented on this website is collected in real-time and is unvalidated. Data may be affected by instrument error and/or external influences such as prescribed burns.