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Our monitoring network in regional and rural New South Wales includes key regional centres and multiple rural stations from the Community DustWatch network.

Read our statements summarising NSW air quality monitoring data for each year and during significant pollution events, such as the 2019–20 bushfire season.

New South Wales experienced good air quality in 2023 compared to 2022, but conditions deteriorated late in the year as successive La Niña events gave way to El Niño.

National air quality standards were met at least 96% of the time in most regions.

In 2023, New South Wales experienced a warmer and drier year compared to 2022, but rainfall from late spring moderated the intensifying hot and dry conditions.

Air quality in New South Wales was generally good in 2023 and within national standards on at least 96% of all days across all regions, except for Newcastle Local region, which met the standard on 84% of days.

Carbon monoxide and hourly nitrogen dioxide levels met the national standards during 2023.

For most locations, PM10 levels in 2023 increased compared to 2022 levels.

For many locations across New South Wales, PM2.5 levels in 2023 increased compared to 2022 levels.

This section examines air quality at monitoring stations near industrial activities in the Newcastle and Upper Hunter regions.