EPA rolls out air pollution sensors across regional Victoria, including Castlemaine, Heathcote and Kyneton

Castlemaine, Heathcote and Kyneton are among 49 locations statewide that now have sensors through a pilot study to track pollutants like smoke, which can build up thanks to wood fire heaters or bushfires.

Hourly air quality categories from each sensor, indicating the level of smoke and other fine particles in the town, will be available through EPA's AirWatch website, EPA chief executive Lee Miezis said.

"We saw during the bushfires last year just how much the community wanted information to help protect their health, particularly from smoke," he said.

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"This is the largest air sensor network program we have undertaken. This pilot project will help us determine how a sensor network can improve our air monitoring coverage across Victoria before we consider a permanent arrangement."

The project was made possible through a partnership with the Department of Land, Water, Environment and Planning and most sensors are located at SES sites.

The EPA's acting chief environmental scientist Carolyn Brumley said the state's air quality was usually pretty good but there were times when smoke from bushfires or people's wood heaters unleashed higher levels of airborne pollutants.

"EPA is able to accurately predict air quality through a range of tools including weather forecasting and smoke modelling, but projects like this will provide valuable on-the-ground information," Dr Bromley said.

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