Worried mum Tess Lieberman and children Billie (4) and Calypsa (2) / Pic: Peter Lorimer Source: The Daily Telegraph
RESIDENTS living along Newcastle Port's freight line claim the coal dust levels are so "dangerously high" that a proposed fourth loading dock would be disastrous.
The Coal Terminal Action Group, an alliance of 18 community groups in the Hunter region, conducted their own air monitoring testing. Group spokeswoman Zoe Rogers says their "backyard testing" show readings from between Newcastle and Rutherford - as well as coal stockpiles - were way above the national safety standard.
Ms Rogers said analysis of the coal dust level results by the University of Newcastle showed the national standard was exceeded at seven of the 11 locations tested.
More than 30,000 people live and 25,000 children attend school within 500m of the coal corridor between Rutherford and Newcastle Port. The export capacity of the Newcastle coal port has grown exponentially in recent years, from 77 million tonnes per year in 1997 to 210 million tonnes per year in 2012.
The fourth coal terminal proposed by Port Waratah Coal Services would see this increase to 330 million tonnes per year, the residents said.
"Most community members consider our air quality is already poor and would worsen if the NSW government approves (a fourth terminal)," the residents' report said.
Tess Lieberman, who shares her Tighes Hill home that overlooks the Carrington terminal with husband Leon and their two children, Billie, 4, and Calypsa, 2, said the dust levels in her suburb were a serious concern.
"You might not see it, there's no 'fog' of dust, but you can clean the house and two days later there's black stuff everywhere, and I'm particularly concerned about how the very small particles of dust can get into the kids' lungs," she said.
The residents tested air quality at one-minute and 10-minute intervals.
