How to use the interactive map: Click on the legend tab or each monitoring station to view information and current readings. Each information box can be moved around by clicking your left mouse and dragging at the same time.
The M5 East Freeway was planned by the NSW Government. It was designed and built by Baulderstone Hornibrook Bilfinger Berger (BHBB) who operate and maintain the freeway, on behalf of the RTA for a 10-year period. BHBB are responsible for air quality monitoring and provide the data for this website, which is operated by the RTA.
Since opening in December 2001, the M5 East tunnel has been operating within the ambient air quality goals set in the December 1997 Planning Minister’s approval for the project.
The M5 East tunnel air quality goals are stringent and are designed to protect public health.
The air quality pages of this website provide both the current and historical air quality monitoring readings and details of the Department of Planning's established goals (or set limits).
To ensure that the air quality goals (or set limits) are satisfied, five air quality monitoring stations have been established in the Wolli Creek Valley to collect important meteorological information and air quality data during operation of the Freeway.
The five monitoring stations providing current air quality data for this website are located at:
- Station 1 - Finlays Avenue, Earlwood (formerly T3). This site provides limited data only.
- Station 2 - Cnr of Wavell Parade and David Street, Earlwood (formerly X1)
- Station 3 - Cnr Jackson Place and Highcliff Road, Undercliffe formerly U1).
- Station 4 - Cnr Walker Street and Thompson Street, Turrella (formerly T1).
- Station 5 - Gipps Street Lookout, Bardwell Valley (formerly CBMS).
Stations 2 and 5 were established in November 2001 and their locations were finalised after input from the M5 East Freeway air quality community consultative committee and the CSIRO.
Stations 1, 3 and 4 were established in June 2000 to collect background air quality information before commencement of the Freeway. Monthly summaries of CO, NO2, PM10 and AVOCS since June 2000 are also available on this site.
Data availability
CO, NO2 and PM10 data for a given hour are available at 30 minutes after the following hour. For example, data for 09:00 to 10:00 is available at 10:30.
24-hour average PM10 data for a given day is available 30 minutes after midnight the next morning. For example, data for 05 July 2001 is available at 00:30 on 06 July 2001.
Wind directions are averaged out (using vector averaging) over a 60 minute period. A wind direction of north (denoted as N in the table) is wind coming from the north and travelling to the south. The wind direction arrow in the map shows the direction the wind is travelling. If the speed is less than 1.5km/h then no wind direction is shown.
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