Air quality in Mount Isa

Emissions generated by our operations at Mount Isa Mines are monitored and managed around the clock—we check for sulphur dioxide, dust and other particulates that can affect air quality.

Our air quality monitoring program in Mount Isa is the most intensive of any city in Australia. Real-time air quality data is captured at 13 stations located across the city and region. View our air quality monitoring network map (PDF 278KB).

Air quality in Mount Isa videos

Learn more about our approach to air quality from Matthew Meere, Senior Advisor Air Quality and Climate Strategy (left) and Kelly Malone, Senior Air Quality and Noise Advisor (right).

Watch Film

Access up-to-date results

Visit our air quality results page to access up-to-date sulphur dioxide air quality monitoring and reporting information around Mount Isa.

Alternately, our Air Quality in Mount Isa (AQMI) app enables you to check current air quality at any time on your smartphone. To download the app, search for 'AQMI' in iTunes or Google Play.

Over the past 15 years we’ve spent more than $600 million on environmental performance improvements, with a focus on air quality management.

Improvements to air quality control

Mount Isa Mines’ Air Quality Control Centre was established in 1975 and is continually improved as scientific findings and new technologies emerge.

We review engineering approaches, operating procedures and monitoring programs for ways to reduce emissions. We also operate and monitor more air quality sensors than required by our Environmental Authority (EA) to provide additional information to guide our approach.

In line with our Environmental Authority (EA) regulated by the Queensland Government, we measure and track air quality through:

short-term hourly results
daily average results
annual average results.

In addition to our rigorous internal monitoring and auditing processes, the Queensland Government Department of Environmental Science (DES) has independent access to Mount Isa air quality monitoring network data, with information provided hourly and automatically.

DES regulates our performance and is responsible for ensuring we comply with the strict conditions of our EA and all other relevant environmental legislation.

We aim to perform better than the limits in our EA to maintain compliance and to minimise impacts to the community where we work and live.

We encourage Mount Isa residents to review air quality results:

Under our EA, we must manage operational emissions to ensure sulphur dioxide concentrations in Mount Isa stay below an hourly average of 570 micrograms per cubic metre of air 98% of the calendar year.

Visit the air quality results page to access up-to-date short-term hourly results.

These results focus on managing sulphur dioxide emissions averaged over a 24-hour period of exposure.

Under our EA, daily average sulphur dioxide concentration must stay below 230 micrograms per cubic metre of air 99% of the calendar year. We cannot exceed a daily average sulphur dioxide concentration of 230 micrograms per cubic metre of air for more than three days at any station in Mount Isa.

Our monitoring results are calculated as percentile values at each monitoring location on a calendar year basis with averaging times based on whole clock hours and calendar days.

Review our daily average results (PDF 84KB).

Under our EA, we must achieve an annual average sulphur dioxide concentration of 57 micrograms per cubic metre of air or less. This is calculated by averaging the hourly sulphur dioxide emission values from 1 January to 31 December.

Review our annual average results (PDF 78KB).

We encourage Mount Isa residents to contact our Community Feedback Hotline on 1800 982 982 if there are any questions or concerns about emissions from our operations.

Real-time air quality results

View the results
Air quality in Mount Isa booklet

Download the PDF

Community complaints and feedback

24 hours/7days

Tel: 1800 982 982

Air quality in Mount Isa