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Upper Hunter coal mines are being put on notice to keep dust down this spring, as the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) launches its annual Bust the Dust compliance campaign.
EPA field officers will be out in force until mid-December, conducting unannounced inspections to ensure open-cut mines are taking appropriate steps to minimise dust to protect local air quality.
The blitz kicked off yesterday, with staff on the ground visiting seven mines across the region to assess how operators were managing dust.
It follows strong results in 2025, when staff carried out 34 inspections across 12 open-cut mines and found appropriate dust mitigation measures were in place.
NSW EPA Executive Director of Field Operations Steve Beaman said Bust the Dust ramps up compliance activity during the higher-risk spring and summer months.
“Last year we saw mines responding appropriately to the changing season, including slowing vehicle speeds, operating at lower elevations and standing down equipment when conditions were unfavourable,” Mr Beaman said.
“It’s a positive sign that community reports to the EPA about dust and air pollution have halved since 2023, but there is no room for complacency as the region becomes warmer and drier.
“We want to see those standards maintained, and our officers will again be turning up unannounced to make sure the right practices are in place.
“Dust can travel beyond mine boundaries and impact surrounding communities, so operators need to be constantly monitoring the weather and ready to act when it changes.
“That can mean deploying water carts on roads and stockpiles, changing how and where work is carried out, or stopping activities altogether during dry and windy conditions.
“While we increase our presence in the hotter months, we regulate dust emissions year-round and won’t hesitate to take action if companies fail to meet their obligations.”
Mines found to be in breach of their licence can face penalties of $30,000 for a first offence and $45,000 for subsequent offences.
Bust the Dust forms part of the EPA’s broader regulation of the coal mining sector, including strengthened requirements announced earlier this year to reduce fossil methane and boost transparency around greenhouse gas emissions.
A community drop-in session will be held in Singleton on 14 September 2026, where residents can ask questions and seek further information about the campaign.
The public is encouraged to report dust concerns to the EPA’s Environment Line by emailing [email protected].
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