[Greens-Media] Govt can no longer ignore M5 East tunnel health risks

[Alison Orme]

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon - 28 August 2009 - Media Release

Govt can no longer ignore M5 East tunnel health risks 

Greens MP and health spokesperson Lee Rhiannon says new research underlining the significant health risks of pollution from the M5 East tunnel demands the NSW government do more than stand by and dabble in trial, part-filtration projects. ('M5 East pollution harming asthmatics', SMH, p. 3 http://tinyurl.com/nbslyn).

"The government must fast track complete filtration of the tunnel, rather than rely on the long overdue, expensive and half-baked solution of a filtration 'trial'," Ms Rhiannon said. 

"We should not have to wait for the first death from an asthma attack for the government to act to properly filter the tunnel.

"The government can no longer act like the tobacco executives of the past who denied the serious health effects of smoking long after the rest of the world caught on. 

"Fining smoky trucks, the installation of fans and a part-trial of filtration is no replacement for proper filtration of the tunnel.

"The dangers posed by ultra fine particles in the tunnel, highlighted in this new university study, are real and cannot be ignored. 

"There are no Australian standards for ultra fine particles and monitoring equipment does not measure this extremely small matter. 

"Fine particles are what scientists are dubbing the 'new asbestos' and this is what the new study has found exists in the tunnel at levels 1,000 times higher than on a suburban street.

"The NSW government and the RTA are the original filtration sceptics. For years they have ignored warnings from scientists, NSW Health and the Department of Environment and Climate Change about the risks of this very poor tunnel air quality on human health.

"As more freight is put on trucks and sent out from an expanded Port Botany the problems of M5 East tunnel air quality are only set to escalate.

"Residents living near the tunnel exit and entry point and those using it regularly deserve immediate action.

"If the government sits idly by in full knowledge of the considerable health risks of tunnel pollution it faces the real possibility of a class action in future years.

"Cities around the world, like Madrid, are filtering emissions from tunnels to protect nearby residents, but the RTA continues to buck this trend," Ms Rhiannon said.

For more information: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568


Alison Orme
Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon (p/t Wed-Fri)
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Mobile: 0432 332 104
Email alison.orme at parliament.nsw.gov.au 
Web www.leerhiannon.org.au