Victoria’s most polluted suburb has recorded its lowest level of dust since recording started in 2009 – but it was still more than three times the limit deemed dangerous by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Last financial year, Brooklyn residents suffered 17 days of dust levels as high as those experienced during the Black Saturday bushfires, compared with 29 the previous year.
WHO warns that people should not be exposed to such levels of particle pollution more than five days a year.
Last month, work started on a $2.6 million state government and Brimbank council project to seal Jones and Bunting roads, which collectively produce more than 30 per cent of the precinct’s dust emissions.
Williamstown MP Wade Noonan said that while dust levels still exceeded the national standard of air quality, the reduction was a promising sign. “I’m hopeful that the sealing of Jones and Bunting roads will have a positive impact on air quality.”
Brooklyn Residents Action Group secretary Bert Boere said the dust reduction was a step in the right direction.
“My concern would be to understand why, and if it’s going to be a permanent thing,” he said.
EPA manager Daniel Hunt said considerable effort had gone into lowering dust levels with more than 20 pollution abatement notices in force.
