Air monitoring report 2005

Overview

Victoria's air was generally clean in 2005. While the air quality objectives were met for most pollutants, particle pollution continues to be an issue needing attention. Air quality was typically poorer on days when emissions were trapped in calm, highly stable air or when strong winds transported dust picked up from the ground.

In an international context, Melbourne's air quality (compared to similar urban centres) remains relatively good. There has been little change in air quality over the last decade despite increasing pressures such as population growth.

Particles monitoring in 2005 showed:

• In Melbourne, there are still days when the visibility and particles objectives are not met. While bushfires and windblown dust were not as important as in some recent years, individual monitoring stations were affected by local sources of dust.

• In Geelong, the objective for PM₁₀ (particles smaller than 10 micrometres) was exceeded less frequently than in 2004, and the visibility objective more frequently.

• In the Latrobe Valley, the PM₁₀ objective was met. Performance against the visibility objective was similar to Melbourne.

• In Ballarat there were some days when the visibility objective was not met.

• In Bendigo there were days when the particles and visibility objectives were not met.

• In Mildura windblown dust led to a large number of days where the particles objective was not met.

EPA is engaged in programs to further investigate and manage particle pollution across Victoria.

The Melbourne/Geelong region remains an area that will at times experience ozone episodes. In 2005 the ozone objectives were met except for a single day at one Melbourne station.

The air quality objectives were achieved for carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide at all EPA monitoring stations in Victoria.

The 2008 national and state air quality goals were achieved, with the exception of visibility (at most sites) and PM₁₀ (at six out of 16 sites).

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Publications

• For full details of Victoria's air quality in 2005, download EPA Publication 1044 – Victoria's Air Quality – 2005 (Adobe PDF file, 334KB)

• For the 2005 air quality data tables, download Victoria's Air Quality 2005 – Air Monitoring Data Tables (Adobe PDF file, 146KB)

• For an assessment against the National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) NEPM, download EPA Publication 1045 – Air Monitoring Report, 2005 – Compliance with the National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure (Adobe PDF file, 1022KB or 1MB)

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