Open-cut coal mines in the Hunter region are meeting dust suppression requirements, a series of unannounced inspections by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has found.
The finding comes from the EPA’s latest Bust the Dust campaign, launched on September 1, 2025, which involved 34 surprise visits to the region’s 12 open-cut mines. The annual campaign assesses whether operators are complying with dust mitigation controls designed to protect local air quality.
NSW EPA director of operations David Gathercole said the results were encouraging for both industry and the community.
“We know people in the Hunter are concerned about the potential impacts of particulate pollution, and we take these issues seriously,” Gathercole said.
“That’s why we ramped up our fifth Bust the Dust campaign, increasing the use of unannounced inspections, using our powers of entry and visiting mines on weekends and evenings.”
According to the EPA, inspectors found that mines had appropriate dust mitigation measures in place and were adjusting operations in response to weather conditions.
“We saw mine workers using slower vehicle speeds, operating at lower elevations and standing down equipment during unfavourable weather, which is what we want to see to ensure the community remains protected,” Gathercole said.
The inspections were carried out against a shifting seasonal backdrop, with the Hunter experiencing a wet start to spring, before conditions turned hotter and drier at the beginning of December, including several days classified as ‘extreme’ fire risk.
The EPA said reports from the community about dust and air quality concerns have halved since 2023, a trend it attributed to more favourable environmental conditions and improved operating standards.
The regulator also pointed to its enforcement activity where standards have not been met. In 2025, the EPA entered into a legally binding agreement with Warkworth mine following non-compliances identified during the 2023 Bust the Dust campaign. The agreement requires operational upgrades and a $120,000 payment to a local environmental project.
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