Awards

OPENAIR: The Operational Network of Air Quality Impact Resources won the Healthy Planet, Healthy People Award at the 35th National Banksia Sustainability Awards in 2024. The project was led by the NSSN in collaboration with UTS and the NSW Department of Planning and Environment.

The Banksia Foundation wrote: OPENAIR empowers local councils to combat air pollution through Australia’s first common method for using low-cost smart sensors to measure air quality. Poor air quality caused by bushfires, wood-fired heaters, agriculture, transportation, industry and urban heat is a significant cause of health problems and premature death in Australian communities. OPENAIR aims to change this. Developed by researchers, tech experts and local councils, OPENAIR’s Best Practice Guide and free-to-download resources guide councils through collecting and analysing localised data so they can make informed decisions about how to respond. OPENAIR is available for all Australian councils to use so that communities all around the country can participate in smart cities and towns, reduce carbon impacts and boost wellbeing.
Read more about OPENAIR.