Air pollution levels down
Board members and company representatives at the RBCAA AGM included John Selby - RBM, Fred Phillips - Founder Member and City of uMhlathuze, Sandy Camminga - Founder Member, Dr Bruce Kelbe - Bay Hospital, Tessa Stoltz - Hillside, Donovan Barton-Hobbs - Mondi and Carel du Plessis - Foskor
Dave Savides
HAVE anti-pollution measures taken by local industries led to the recorded decrease in air pollution levels?
That’s the million dollar question after the Richards Bay Clean Air Association (RBCAA) reported a steady decline in pollution levels over the past year (2008).
Speaking at the Association’s AGM on Wednesday, RBCAA Chairman, Fred Phillips, said there had been ‘a significant reduction in the number of measured S02 (sulphur dioxide) exceedences’.
The annual S02 concentrations were lower than in past years, and there were only three exceedences, compared with 21 in 2007.
In addition, 212 air quality complaints were logged, as against 336 the previous year.
However, it was noted that a number of industries - most significantly Bayside - had reduced their production levels.
‘I would caution that this is not to be viewed as a green light for expansions and new developments,’ said Phillips.
‘Production could be increased at any time.’
This, plus the fact there are still areas where no monitoring equipment exists, raised more caution about being too optimistic about the decreases.
No go areas
The RBCAA reaffirmed its position that ‘no further development of emitting industries should take place in areas where any guideline or half guideline is reached’.
Particular reference was made to the Bayside-Hillside-Foskor triangle near the CBD.
Another warning was that the PM10 particulate data captured showed 12 exceedences of the SANS National Daily Limit - three at the CBD station and nine at the Brackenham station.
Negatives and positives
While industry was thanked for their prompt investigation of complaints, ‘the same cannot be said of the municipality’.
The lack of capacity and absence of an Air Pollution Control Officer since 2005 has, according to the annual report, ‘resulted in a poor response record for the uMhlathuze Municipality’.
The technical expertise of RBCAA’s consultants, Ecoserv and the work done by Manco and the various sub-committees, was highly praised.
In particular, the efforts of Founder Board Member and Manco Chair, Sandy Camminga was noted, while the Zululand Observer was lauded for being ‘instrumental in creating and maintaining the public profile of the RBCAA’.
The incoming Board of Directors elected at the AGM is:
Corporate: RBM, Hillside, Mondi, Foskor;
Non-corporate: City of uMhlathuze, Bay Hospital, Sandy Camminga - Founder Member.