Air quality in singleton / maitland

**AshleighsMum** · 04-08-2008 19:08

We are thinking of moving to Singleton - DH to work in the mines ...... I was just wanting to find out from people that live in the area what the air quality is due to all the coal mines.
I was talking to my Mum about it today and she said that her and Dad took me to Maitland while on a holiday when I was about 10 (so about 20 years ago!) and she said that the coal dust in the air affected my asthma almost immediatly.
Is it still bad today???
Honest answers would be a big help - especially from Mums whose kids actually have asthma.

**AshleighsMum** · 05-08-2008 06:59

Anyone????........

**mummyof5** · 05-08-2008 07:48

I live in Greta, which is pretty much smack in the middle of the 2, on the New England Highway. Have lived here for 2 years, and never known anyone with an asthmatic child to have more issues than anywhere else. In fact I would say it is cleaner than most city and surrounding suburbs, especially Sydney.
My son is an asthmatic, but hasn't needed meds since we moved here, though not sure wether that has to do with growing up and out of it or the cleaner enviroment than Sydney, where we were living before we moved up here.

**AshleighsMum** · 05-08-2008 08:37

Thanks for that mummyof5 - Im glad your son's asthma has cleared up since you moved from Sydney.

Fingers crossed that neither of my kids will have asthma as they get older - havent shown any signs of it yet which I would pressume to be a good sign.

So - how do you like living in the area compaired to Sydney - is it an easy community to get into & make new friends?? My husband is thinking of working in one of the coal mines just out of Singleton & we will not know anyone in the area.

**DoubleDelight** · 05-08-2008 11:00

We are at East Maitland and moved here 18mths ago from South Western Sydney and the air quality here is definitely better.

I've found that everyone is really welcoming. It's like moving to any new area it's just a matter of finding people with common interests.

**AshleighsMum** · 05-08-2008 11:53

Thanks DoubleDelight.
My DH is putting in for a job at a coal mine near Singleton & I am a bit concerned about moving to a totally new area.
We lived in Brisbane for about 7 years when we originally moved from our hometown of Nyngan (were we are again) - but that was before we had kids and it was really easy to make new friends because we both worked & we were young.
I guess having a young family will have its advantages of being an ice-breaker & forming friendships with playgroup parents?

**mummyof5** · 13-08-2008 22:52

Sorry I haven't gotten back on here earlier, Ashleighsmum. Try PMing Gumby, she lives in Singo, and has young kids, so will be able to give you more of an idea whats available for them.

**AshleighsMum** · 18-08-2008 16:27

Thanks for that - I will send her a PM.

I am getting quite anxious now - DH did put in for the job and we havent heard anything back yet. Not sure how long they usually take to do their short list of applicants. Apparently there was something like 60 different jobs on offer so I think we would be pretty hard up if DH didnt get one of them (he is definitly qualified for the job). The more I think about it the more I am starting to wonder whether or not to just hold off moving for another year or so before my DS is at least 1.5.....I think I am just nervous about meeting new people again and finding "good" friends - IYKWIM.

**Sheer Bliss** · 18-08-2008 16:42

Hi!! I have lived in Singleton, Newcastle & Maitland and can't honestly say i've noticed any difference in air quality between them, it's all good. When i go to Sydney, I have noticed it being worse, stuffier etc. There is definately coal dust in the air, you can see it on the cars, esp when parked outside the mines, but it's not too bad. My cousins both have asthma (one pretty bad - spent lots of time in and out of hospital when younge) and they never had problems when they stayed with us for a few days over christmas each year. Slow combustion fires made her worse than the coal dust.

I have a friend in Singleton with a 15month old, and she met a lovely bunch of mums through her mothers group, lots of lovely people to meet, so don't worry about that.

It can sometimes take AGES for the silly mines to get their act together with applications though, so don't worry too much just yet. They usually sort through who's brothers friend they promised which job to, then sort through the other stuff. And there was one that went on for 3months before they decided, and half the successful applicants already had jobs, so they decided to start the whole process again. If your DH is very qualified, then hopefully waiting will be all that is needed! Good Luck!