[Greens-Media] Lane Cove Tunnel inquiry: Greens dissent

[Lee Rhiannon]

MEDIA RELEASE
23 August 2006 

Lane Cove Tunnel inquiry: Greens dissent  

Greens MP and Lane Cove Tunnel inquiry member Lee Rhiannon has been forced to deliver a dissenting report after other MPs on the inquiry refused to call on the Iemma government to filter the tunnel, to retain the 24-hour bus lane and fast track dormant plans for the North-West rail link.

“I wrote my dissenting statement after other MPs on the inquiry refused to support these key recommendations from the Greens,” Ms Rhiannon said. 

 “The Greens have called on the government not to erode bike, pedestrian and public transport facilities associated with the Lane Cove Tunnel project.  

“The Cross City Tunnel experience shows this government views bike and bus lanes as dispensible baubles when really they are critical to a sustainable and liveable city. 

“This government should prioritise public transport. Fast-tracking the unfunded and sleeping North-West Rail Link is urgently needed. 

“Promised initiatives like the North-West Rail Link have been left in the dust of traffic inducing road projects such as the Lane Cove Tunnel.
 
“I was disappointed that not one of the other MPs on the inquiry would support the Greens recommendation that the RTA immediately call for expressions of interest to install the world’s best in-tunnel filtration system in the Lane Cove Tunnel and all future tunnels.

 “The government’s M5 East filtration trial and Lane Cove Tunnel health study are cynical stalling exercises, designed to turn down political heat over air quality.

“International evidence shows in-tunnel filtraton is the key to protecting public health. 

“Our dissenting report also recommends amending NSW planning laws to prevent the RTA continuing to ‘self-approve’ significant changes to development approvals, without again exhibiting them for public comment.

“The government should pull on the reins of the RTA to prevent it thumbing its nose at proper planning and environmental processes.
 
“After the Lane Cove Tunnel works were approved the RTA made an executive decision to significantly change the tunnel ventilation design, increasing public health risks, without consulting NSW Planning and Environment agencies or the public.

“Once it opens the Lane Cove Tunnel is set to be another ugly sibling of the Cross City Tunnel, born of a roads obsessed government. Now is the time for the government to act to stop a similar debacle,” Ms Rhiannon said.

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