The Mildura and Bright communities now have local air quality conditions available online 24 hours a day thanks to a collaboration between VICSES and EPA.
Under the agreement, VICSES volunteer units will host monitoring equipment at their stations, with information shared via EPA's AirWatch online portal.
Information collected from the equipment will be used to better understand air quality impacts from smoke and dust in these local areas and help provide targeted advice to the community.
Clicking on the map at epa.vic.gov.au/for-community/airwatch allows you to see current air quality, data for the past 48 hours and air quality forecasts for the coming days.
EPA Chief Environmental Scientist Professor Mark Patrick Taylor says the trial at Mildura and Bright expands an already successful partnership between EPA and VICSES.
"It began with 14 VICSES units around the state taking on the role of responding to bushfires and other incidents with Incident Air Monitoring (IAM) gear – suitcase sized units that provide vital air quality data to Incident Controllers and the public via the website," Prof Taylor said.
"It added to EPA's existing mobile monitoring capacity and the regional locations of the VICSES units meant quicker response times to country locations," he said.
VICSES Deputy Chief Officer Alistair Drayton says with the local unit already equipped and trained it makes good sense to use this equipment all the time to inform the community about air pollution, not just when there is an incident.
"This VICSES and EPA collaborative approach to deploy these air monitoring units is a great example of agencies working together to keep Victorians safe," DCO Drayton said.
"Projects like this will provide valuable on-the-ground information, and in turn further assist VICSES volunteers to support their local communities better," he said.
The addition of Mildura and Bright monitoring stations means regional coverage has expanded to 51 locations after the deployment of EPA's Regional Sensor Network, providing live air quality monitoring across country Victoria, and 91 across the whole state.
The pilot program will run through summer and into 2022 and will expand to more of the 14 VICSES locations in country areas if it goes well.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
EPA AirWatch is here: epa.vic.gov.au/for-community/airwatch
There's advice on smoke and your health on the EPA website here:
epa.vic.gov.au/for-community/environmental-information/air-quality/smoke/smoke-your-health
You can find advice on indoor air filters including HEPA filters, here:
epa.vic.gov.au/about-epa/publications/1809
EPA's Regional Sensor Network locations include:
Ararat, Bacchus Marsh, Bairnsdale, Beechworth, Benalla, Bright, Broadford, Camperdown, Castlemaine, Chiltern, Cobden, Colac, Daylesford – Hepburn Springs, Drysdale – Clifton Springs, East Warburton, Gisborne, Hamilton, Heathcote, Heywood, Kerang, Kinglake, Kyneton, Lakes Entrance, Lancefield, Leongatha, Lorne, Macedon, Maffra, Mallacoota, Mansfield, Mildura, Myrtleford, Orbost, Ouyen, Portland, Rutherglen, Sale, Seville, Shepparton – Mooroopna, Stawell, Sunbury, Swan Hill, Torquay - Jan Juc, Wallan, Warburton, Warragul, Wodonga, Wonthaggi, Yarra Glen, Yarrawonga.
EPA also has a fixed network of stations in Melbourne, Geelong and the Latrobe Valley, and mobile and incident air monitoring stations for use during bushfires and other emergencies.
