Like many 20th century industrial cities, Newcastle had a history of poor air quality. However, as industry emission controls have tightened and our reliance on coal as an energy source for homes and industries has reduced, air quality in Newcastle has steadily improved.

The impacts of air pollution vary from nuisance problems to significant health issues.

Individuals, households, communities, business, industry and governments all play a significant role in effective air quality management.

Newcastle Airshed Management Plan

Newcastle City Council has established the Newcastle Airshed Management Plan 2005 (NAMAP) as its framework for identifying and managing local and regional air quality issues.

The action plan proposes strategies within key areas to address the sources of primary air pollutants. The key areas that form the framework for the action plan are:

• Council operation
• Energy efficiency
• Regional cooperation
• Land Use Planning
• Transport
• Vehicle Emissions
• Business & Industry
• Regulation & Enforcement
• Community Involvement.

The NAMAP will be evaluated and revised to ensure the effectiveness of all actions in improving Newcastle’s air quality.

The implementation and status of these actions will be reported through the annual State of the Environment report.

The Newcastle Air Emission Inventory 2004

The Newcastle Air Emission Inventory provides information on the main sources of air emissions and their relative contributions in our local government area. The information is used to inform air quality management planning.

More information

For more information on air quality issues and Newcastle City Council contact Council's Project Officer on 02 4974 2536.