South-east Queensland monitoring stations
The department has a substantial monitoring network in south-east Queensland (SEQ). Sites are located in inner city, rural, industrial and residential areas of Ipswich, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Logan and Brisbane. Information about air quality in SEQ is available in the monthly bulletins and annual summary reports.
Mountain Creek
This station is located at the Mountain Creek State Primary School. It was established in July 2001 to measure meteorology and concentrations of nitrogen oxides, ozone and PM10 at the Sunshine Coast.
| Meteorological data | Ozone |
| Nitrogen oxides | PM10 |
Deception Bay
This site is located in a residential area on the foreshore of Deception Bay. It was established in 1994 when the south-east Queensland air quality monitoring network was expanded to gather further information on photochemical smog formation and transportation
Ozone and nitrogen dioxide are measured at this site. Wind speed and direction data are also collected to help the department determine the movement of air pollutants within the region.
| Meteorological data | Ozone |
| Nitrogen oxides |
Eagle Farm
The department has measured air quality at Eagle Farm since 1978. The station is located in a light industrial area at the DPI Quarantine Centre, Eagle Farm.
Ozone, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, PM10 and visibility-reducing particles are measured at Eagle Farm. Meteorological parameters including wind speed and direction, air temperature, and humidity are also recorded at Eagle Farm. The department uses the concentrations recorded at this and other stations to produce an air quality forecast for the south-east Queensland region.
| Meteorological data | Ozone |
| Visibility-reducing particles | PM10 |
| Nitrogen oxides | Sulfur dioxide |
Pinkenba
The Pinkenba station was established in 2001 to monitor the impact of industrial and other activities on local air quality. The station was established by BP Refinery (Bulwer Island) Pty Ltd as part of its major Clean Fuels upgrade and is currently located in the grounds of the Pinkenba State School.
Air quality parameters are measured continuously and include nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, and PM10. Meteorological data is also measured and includes wind speed, wind direction, air temperature, and relative humidity.
| Meteorological data | Ozone |
| Carbon monoxide | PM10 |
| Nitrogen oxides | Sulfur dioxide |
Wynnum
The Wynnum monitoring station is located within the grounds of Nazareth House at Wynnum North. It was established in 2004 to monitor the impact of Brisbane River mouth industries on nearby residential areas.
Sulfur dioxide is measured at the station. Meteorological parameters, including wind speed and direction, temperature, humidity and rainfall, are also recorded. The station is operated by environmental consultants on behalf of local industry.
| Meteorological data | Sulfur dioxide |
Brisbane CBD
Air quality monitoring in the Brisbane central business district (CBD) began in 1995. Two sites now operate in the Brisbane CBD. Ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, PM10, visibility-reducing particles, and organic pollutants are measured.
The first site is located in an elevated position at the Queensland University of Technology campus. Conventional monitoring techniques are used to monitor visibility-reducing particles and PM10.
The second site was established in 1998 at the Queensland Sciencentre. Differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) technology is used to measure ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide, as well as benzene, toluene, xylene and formaldehyde at this location. Carbon monoxide is also monitored here using conventional monitoring techniques.
| Meteorological data | Ozone |
| Visibility-reducing particles | PM10 |
| Carbon monoxide | Sulfur dioxide |
| Nitrogen oxides | Organic pollutants |
Woolloongabba
The Woolloongabba station is sited 4 metres from the kerb of Ipswich Road, within the grounds of the Princess Alexandria Hospital. Its proximity to the busy main road in a commercial business area makes it ideal for monitoring air pollution from traffic sources.
Total suspended particulate matter, PM10, carbon monoxide and airborne lead, all pollutants emitted from motor vehicles, are measured at this site. Wind data are also recorded for the site.
| Meteorological data | PM10 |
| Carbon monoxide | TSP |
| Airborne lead |
South Brisbane
This site is located adjacent to the Southeast Freeway and was established in 2001. This site provides information on air quality typically experienced at the boundary of major traffic corridors in southeast Queensland.
The Department of Main Roads has funded the establishment of this site and its ongoing operational costs.
| Meteorological data | Nitrogen oxides |
| Carbon monoxide | PM10 |
Rocklea
The Rocklea station was established as part of the original monitoring network in 1978. The site is located in an open area of the former Department of Primary Industries Animal Husbandry Research Farm and is surrounded by light industry and residential areas.
A variety of pollutants are currently monitored at Rocklea station including ozone, nitrogen oxides, PM10, PM2.5 and visibility-reducing particles.
PM10 is monitored at Rocklea using both high-volume air sampler and TEOM techniques. Rocklea is one of the two PM2.5 monitoring sites in Queensland. The other PM2.5 monitoring site is Springwood.
| Meteorological data | Ozone |
| Visibility-reducing particles | PM10 |
| Nitrogen oxides | PM2.5 |
Springwood
The site is located in the grounds of Springwood State High School. Differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) equipment is used at Springwood to monitor ozone, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, benzene, xylene and toluene. PM10 and PM2.5 are also monitored at Springwood.
This site was established in 1999 and provides the department with data on the concentrations of air pollutants that the people living in outer residential areas of Brisbane are exposed to.
| Ozone | PM10 |
| Nitrogen dioxide | PM2.5 |
| Sulfur dioxide | Organic pollutants |
North Maclean
The North Maclean station was established in 1994 as part of the expanded monitoring network designed to collect data on photochemical smog formation and transportation.
Ozone, nitrogen oxides and wind data are collected at this station and are used by the department for regional modelling and forecasting purposes.
| Meteorological data | Ozone |
| Nitrogen oxides |
Gatton
Meteorological equipment located at Gatton is used as an input for the air quality model for south-east Queensland. The equipment at this station is solar powered.
| Meteorological data |
Dinmore
Air quality monitoring at the Dinmore State School commenced in August 2003 at the request of Dinmore residents. Monitoring information collected may assist in assessing the impact of particles generated by proposed industrial developments on existing air quality.
PM10, PM2.5 and wind data are collected at this site. Monitoring will be conducted between August and October 2003, with a possible extension to December 2003 depending on monitoring equipment availability.
| Meteorological data | PM10 |
| PM2.5 |
Flinders View
Flinders View station, at Ipswich, was established in 1993 to measure pollutant concentrations in the Ipswich area and the movement of pollutants within south-east Queensland.
It measures ozone, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, PM10, visibility-reducing particles and meteorological data. Measurements recorded at Flinders View station are used in the air pollution forecast for the south-east Queensland region.
| Meteorological data Ozone Nitrogen oxides |
Sulfur dioxide Visibility-reducing particles PM10 |
Mutdapilly
Mutdapilly station is surrounded by rural land. It was established in 1995 to provide information on photochemical smog formation and transport in SEQ
Ozone, nitrogen oxides and wind measurements are recorded at Mutdapilly for use in air pollution modelling and forecasting systems.
| Meteorological data | Ozone |
| Nitrogen oxides |
Toowoomba
Air quality monitoring began in Toowoomba in July 2003. The station is located at Willowburn Oval and is surrounded by light industry and residential areas. Being located in a valley, pollutant levels at this site are expected to be indicative of maximum levels experienced across Toowoomba.
The range of pollutants monitored at this site include ozone, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, PM10, PM2.5 and visibility-reducing particles.
| Meteorological data | PM10 |
| Ozone | PM2.5 |
| Nitrogen oxides | Visibility-reducing particles |
| Carbon monoxide |
 |
Last updated: 07 April 2006