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3.5 Bathurst

3.5.1 Description of the region

(195kb) Figure 18: Population density and topography of Bathurst, Orange and environs Place names indicate population centres.

Bathurst is located some 150 km west of Sydney in the Central Tablelands and on the banks of the Macquarie River, with higher ground rising to the south-west of the city centre (see Figure 18). There are no significant industrial sources of air pollution in the region. The relatively cold winters and prevalence of wood heating leads to a potential for exceedences of the NEPM standard for PM₁₀. The urban centre has a population of 26,000 and according to clause 14(1) of the AAQ NEPM, it therefore requires at least one station.

There has been no monitoring of AAQ NEPM parameters in Bathurst.

3.5.2 Proposed AAQ NEPM assessment scheme

Clause 14(2) of NEPM allows fewer performance monitoring stations where it can be demonstrated that "pollutant levels are reasonably expected to be consistently lower than the standards mentioned in this Measure". PRC (2000d) sets out criteria which when met provide a basis for deter-mining that there is a reasonable expectation that pollutant concentrations are consistently lower than the standards. These screening procedures will be applied.

Monitoring data from the Sydney CBD site demonstrates that CO arising from motor vehicles in Bathurst will be low and the screening criteria are satisfied (section 3.1.2). There may be potential for elevated concentrations of CO arising from the use of solid fuels. No monitoring of CO is proposed in Bathurst at this stage. NSW will await the outcome of monitoring of CO in other regional centres such as Kalgoorlie (2001) and Toowoomba (2002) before making a final decision.

Data from the Sydney region allows screening of sulfur dioxide and lead (section 3.1.2). In addition, monitoring data from Newcastle (section 3.2.2), allow screening of nitrogen dioxide. Thus monitoring of these three parameters is not required in this region.

To further develop screening arguments for ozone in regional centres, NSW has commenced monitoring of ozone in Bathurst on a campaign basis. The need for ongoing monitoring will be assessed in light of the results of this monitoring and the outcomes of the consultancy to develop additional modelling tools (TAPM).

Bathurst is one of several regional centres located on the tablelands where smoke from wood fires may be of concern during winter. As there is the potential for exceedences of the NEPM goal, NSW EPA has begun campaign monitoring in Bathurst.

The monitoring station is located to the north west of the city centre. It is in a relatively low-lying area where emissions from a substantial part of the City would be transported by katabatic air flows and by cold air drainage along the Macquarie River. It is in a position where it is also likely to receive emissions transported across the City by prevailing southerly and westerly winds.