The Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) has given its thumbs up for an air quality and meteorological monitoring station to be installed on reserve land on Upton Street.

The station will monitor levels of particulate matter - tiny particles that are a harmful pollutant - and, once operational, the data from the station will be publicly available.

The new station will be the eighth in a network of stations around the region which help Otago Regional Council (ORC) monitor air quality across Otago.

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) parks property planner Matt Judd told the WUCCB that ORC had been searching for a suitable site in Wānaka “for quite some time”.

“[The site has been] identified by their air quality scientist as an ideal location.”

ORC began upgrading and expanding its monitoring sites in the region late last year in response to changing monitoring guidelines from Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA).

ORC air quality scientist Sarah Harrison said increased air quality monitoring and data collection will make the regional council better equipped to address air pollution.

WUCCB chair Simon Telfer said there was a “community benefit” in the monitoring station.

“The longitude study of air quality is really important,” he said. “I’m happy we play our part.”

The station will be located at the corners of Upton and Stone streets; it will include a four-to-six metre tall mast and it will be fenced.

ORC requested a 10-year lease with two rights of renewal of five years to allow it to gather data over an extended period.

The WUCCB has approved the intention to notify a lease and selected three members to form a hearing panel, who will hear any submissions and make a recommendation to council on the lease.

PHOTO: Supplied