!CANBERRA Airport last month installed five air monitors and boosted extractor fans after taxi drivers reported exhaust fumes were lingering in the temporary cab staging area.
Parts of the airport are a construction site, with work on stage two of the revamped aerodrome now underway.
Stage two involves the construction of the Western Concourse Terminal and makes up 60per cent of the entire project.
The new terminal will house shops, food and beverage outlets, an undercover car park, and an indoor taxi rank.
But in the meantime, drivers are using a temporary undercover area, which will operate for another four months and then move to another temporary area before the final area is unveiled in March 2013.
Canberra Airport managing director Stephen Byron said a total of five carbon monoxide sensors had been installed, while an extra fan was fitted and two existing fans were realigned to deal with the issue. ''Under the Building Code of Australia, because of the amount of natural ventilation, no sensors or air fans were required at all [but] they were installed in locations to provide coverage of areas occupied by taxis and people,'' Mr Byron said.
''It was an amenity thing ... [and sensors] were installed as a precautionary measure to guard against elevated levels of carbon monoxide and to maintain the integrity of the air quality.
''The results to date from the sensors show there are no issues with carbon monoxide ... [although] there were some pockets where you could smell something so we did some precautionary tests and found it was a non-issue.''
Mr Byron said an independent environmental science group was also hired to conduct monitoring for various gases in the vicinity.
He said a preliminary report showed there were no issues.
Mr Byron said all results would be made available to WorkSafe ACT if requested.
Drivers said the moves have improved the exhaust situation and would work with the airport to ensure further progress.
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