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M5 tunnel filtration plans dropped: Campbell dumps on motorists and locals
Saturday 20 February 2010
Greens MP and roads spokesperson Lee Rhiannon says today's report that the RTA has dumped plans to filter the east-bound section of the M5 East tunnel shows the government's continued negligence in failing to properly deal with the health risks posed by the tunnel.
"The Roads Minister David Campbell must fast track world class filtration of the M5 tunnel and come clean on how much this bungled project has cost the public," Ms Rhiannon said.
"Dropping this half baked filtration project after years of bungling underlines the RTA's incompetence and the government's failure to take seriously the task of filtering one of the world's filthiest tunnels.
"This development bodes extremely poorly for the government's proposal to duplicate the M5 tunnel. It is impossible to trust the RTA to properly filter the new tunnel system and before long we will have double the health risk.
"This failed promise condemns tunnel users and residents living around the M5 tunnel entrance and stack to choke on some of the highest levels of fine particles, carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide of any tunnel in the world.
"Other cities around the world like Madrid protect motorists and residents by installing proper filtration equipment, but the NSW government continues to duck its responsibilities.
"The RTA has consistently dragged its heels on both the east and west bound tunnel filtration projects. This mismanagement has left Sydneysiders to inhale the muck from cars and trucks which international scientists are dubbing the 'new asbestos'.
"The cocktail of pollutants found in unfiltered vehicle emissions creates an increased potential for respiratory disease, impaired lung development in children and an elevated lifetime risk of cancer.
"This government must not wait until the first person dies from an asthma attack in the filthy M5 tunnel to install proper filtration.
"Over a decade ago the warning bells were rung about the health impacts of tunnel emissions and the need to filter this long, now very congested tunnel.
"The RTA is a world onto itself and until Minister Campbell builds a culture of accountability and competence Sydneysiders driving through and living near this polluted tunnel will continue to suffer.
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