A Lake Macquarie resident has raised concerns about a dust monitor at the Teralba Metro Mix Quarry, which has been out of action for six months. Ray Young, who lives near the quarry, claims the measuring device in Myrtle Street has been filled with water and has not been inspected since July last year.
The quarry is currently planning a multi-million dollar expansion. Young expressed worry that the data from the monitor may have been compromised, noting that the water-filled bottle has remained unchanged since July. He questioned the integrity of the monitoring process, given the prolonged lack of inspection.
The company operating the quarry stated that rail authorities, who own the land where the monitor is located, had refused access. However, Graham Clarke, the Environment Protection Authority's Hunter Regional Manager, confirmed that the access issue has been resolved. He explained that between July and January, the company could not access the site, but the monitor has been operating before and after that period, providing appropriate results.
Clarke also addressed the water in the gauge, stating that it does not affect dust readings. He described the device as a funnel-type collector open to the air, and noted that water is evaporated during laboratory analysis to measure the dust content.
