Smoky City History of Air Pollution in Newcastle

History of Air Pollution Book Launch

Everyone is invited to attend the book launch of Smoky City – A History of Air Pollution in Newcastle NSW by Dr Nancy Cushing and Professor Howard Bridgman of the University of Newcastle (Australia). The book will be launched by former Lord Mayor of Newcastle John Tate.

When: 4.30PM Thursday 23 July 2015
Where: The University Gallery, University of Newcastle, University Drive Callaghan NSW
RSVP: Howard Bridgman howard.bridgman@newcastle.edu.au

 

Records of the Mayfield Residents Group

The Mayfield Residents Group was established in 1990 by a group of concerned citizens in an effort to bring a public voice to a wide range of community issues.

The aim of the group was to promote the interests of the people of Mayfield at all levels of Government. Pollution remained one of the central concerns of the group over the years and their successful campaign against the building of the Cleanaway waste treatment plant in Mayfield was one of their foremost achievements.

Over the years the Mayfield Residents Group established an effective communication channel with a wide variety of local industries and firms that ensured that the community’s comments and concerns relating to environmental impacts of proposed developments could be addressed.

The records of the Mayfield Residents Group contain a range of documents relating to the operation of the organisation as well as published reports and publications relating to the proposed developments that were under consultation.

The Mayfield Residents Group have been involved in consultations with a number of important organisations, industries and developments of national and international significance including:
•    Port Waratah Coal Service and the Aluminium Fluoride Plant on Kooragang Island;
•    B.H.P. Billiton and Comsteel (later part of the Smorgans Group);
•    Steel River Industrial Park;
•    Newcastle Port Corporation;
•    Cleanaway Waste Treatment Facility.

The Mayfield Residents Group has always championed the provision of first-class professional research into health impacts relating to the industrial developments in Mayfield. They were also a strong advocate for the independent monitoring of industrial emissions and were in regular contact with the EPA through representation at community forums.

The Collection contains material on a range of developments and environmental issues, including:
•    Road management, including traffic flow through Mayfield and developments in the Mayfield shopping area;
•    Transport routes through Mayfield for coal, chemicals and petroleum products;
•    Parks and playgrounds, including swimming pools;
•    Social issues, such as crime prevention, traffic and transport issues;
•    Air and water quality;
•    Waste management and hazardous materials;
•    Newcastle Local Environmental Plan;
•    Regional development of the Hunter Region.

The Mayfield Residents Group continues to be available for community consultation on a range of environmental and social issues that affect the sustainability of the region. Although regular meetings are no longer held, they remain a vital link to ensuring that the voice of the Newcastle community continues to be heard and considered.

The records were deposited by Dr Edward Flowers and accessioned April-May 2011 by Ms Melanie Patfield. The listing of the archival collections was made possible by the kind generosity of the Vera Deacon Regional History Fund.

[DOWNLOAD] Records of the Mayfield Residents Group Listing