Upper Hunter coal mines are being put on notice to keep dust down this spring, as the NSW Environment Protection Authority launches its annual Bust the Dust compliance campaign.
EPA field officers will be conducting unannounced inspections until mid-December to ensure open-cut mines are taking appropriate steps to minimise dust and protect local air quality. The blitz began earlier this week, with staff visiting seven mines across the region to assess how operators were managing dust.
The campaign 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.
Mines found in breach of their licence can face penalties of $30,000 for a first offence and $45,000 for subsequent offences. The campaign forms part of the EPA’s broader regulation of the coal sector, including strengthened requirements introduced earlier this year around fossil methane and greenhouse gas emissions transparency.
A community drop-in session will be held in Singleton on 14 September 2026, giving residents a chance to ask questions about the campaign. The public can report dust concerns to the EPA’s Environment Line by emailing info@epa.nsw.gov.au.
