When I’m worried about something, I can choose to either ignore it or find out more. If it’s important to me, I usually opt to find out more by researching and discussing the issue with knowledgeable people. This way I can decide whether my concern is warranted and if I should act.

As a new-comer to Gladstone for me, like many other new and longer term Gladstone residents, air quality is one of these issues.

When I came to Gladstone one of the first things I noticed was something I wasn’t used to - the highly visible presence of major industry. I looked at the stacks and wondered what was being released and if this was an issue.

A luxury of my role is that I have the time to read widely and the access needed to ask the in-depth questions I need to ask to better understand my air quality concerns.

As you know, the final report from the Clean and Healthy Air for Gladstone study is due in mid-2010. This detailed one to two-year air quality study was triggered by community concern about air quality and will help further build our understanding of any air quality issues.

The problem is that this scientific process is reasonably complex and can be a challenge to completely understand. So when I ask people how they want the results of this report explained, typically I’m told it has to be in “plain English”, shouldn’t use “technical jargon”, “be simplified” and be “published in the Observer”.

This is why Gladstone Industry Leadership Group (GILG) members strongly support and welcome the Observer’s decision to publish an independent air quality index.

This index is an important part of a transparent discussion of Gladstone’s air quality.

The publication of this index does not remove the onus on industry to always look for ways to improve their environmental performance. This remains part of the DNA of GILG members.

If the Observer’s air quality index prompts you to find out more, the GILG website has a link to real time air monitoring data for Gladstone.

The GILG website also has information about GILG member environmental performance and licences and gives you the opportunity to have your say. So if you’d like to ask questions about the air quality index or make improvement suggestions, please check out our forum topics at www.gilg.com.au.

If you would like to have your say and don't know how, please click on this link which shows you how to register and make a comment, anonymously if you wish.

I look forward to hearing from you soon, cheers, Kurt.

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