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RTA
M5 East Modifications (October 2006)
More pollution via planned portal emissions
Updated: 20:05 AEDT Wednesday 14 March 2007
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The RTA plan
The
RTA has applied to the Department of Planning to modify the operating
conditions for the M5 tunnel.
The main change
requested is to allow unfiltered portal emissions from both Bexley
North and Arncliffe for 14 hours per day to help improve in-tunnel
conditions.
The RTA proposal is aimed solely at
improving in-tunnel conditions for motorists.
The
stated aim is to remove the 'perception' of a problem with 'haze' and
to reduce tunnel closures due to bad air quality. The budget is $50
million.
Portal
Emissions
RTA plan may 'work' for those
inside the tunnel, but not for those outside the tunnel
Portal
emissions start immediately and will significantly increase the impact
of harmful diesel fumes on people living round the tunnel portals.
Around
$45 million is spent on fixing 1/3 of 1/4 of the "haze" problem in the
tunnel.
The remainder of the problem is 'fixed' by
dumping the diesel emissions out of the portals at ground level.
There
is no guarantee that the filters will be kept working after the one
year 'trial'.
The increase of 0.6 µg/m3 in diesel
particle emissions predicted to occur near the portals increases
life-time cancer risk by 180 in a million, according to the new
California OEHHA guidelines.
- This is 3,600
times
greater than the risk claimed in the RTA.
- It is
180 times
the risk threshold specified by the NSW EPA!
NSW Health Opinion of
the RTA Plan for Portal Emissions
NSW Health has expressed
severe concerns about the likely adverse impacts on the health of
people around the portals.
RAPS
Opinion of the RTA Plan
RAPS
believes that for $50 million, the public should be able to get cleaner
air inside and outside the
tunnel by:
- installing, at both Bexley
North and
Marsh St, filtration and cleaning equipment, similar to that currently
being installed in Madrid, to remove diesel particulate and nitrogen
dioxide from the tunnel exhaust; and
- using ceiling
mounted particle filtration inside the tunnel to remove what the RTA
chooses to call 'haze' but is actually carcinogenic diesel exhaust.
Additional
information is available:
RAPS:
- Supports
the installation of appropriate air cleaning systems at the portals and
inside the M5 tunnel
- Demands that this be done in a
safe and
cost effective manner
- Rejects the RTA plan as it
stands.
Take
Action Now! Make
a submission
1.
Submission to the NSW Department of Planning
Details
of the RTA plan and of how to make a submission to the Department of
Planning
are at:
1.1
RAPS Suggestions for your submission
We suggest that you
write to the Department of Planning stating your objections.
Please
keep a copy of your submission.
The
following suggestions may be of assistance:
Submissions are still welcome (@ 14 March 2007) - though be quick!
1.2
RAPS Welcomes a Copy of your submission
RAPS welcomes a copy
of your submission. This helps our awareness of community
concerns.
This
step is important as the information will not otherwise be adequately
available during the Department of Planning's processes.
2. Contact your local Member of
Parliament
We suggest you inform your local member of your
decision and request their support.
Stay tuned... Voter
Pledge form against the RTA's proposal of portal emissions.
3. Contact your favourite
media outlet
We
suggest you inform your favourite media organisation or personality.
Eg. Talk back radio, radio, Newspapers, Letters to the
Editor,
TV, web logs (blogs)...
Political
parties intensively monitor media outlets when gauging public opinion.
The
following link contains some media outlets (unfortunately
it hasn't been updated in a long time - the details may no
longer
be correct):
Residents
Against
Polluting
Stacks
Inc. (RAPS)
website address is nostack.8m.com
Thanks
to Bur.st
Networking for
hosting this page ![The RTA Plan [Click for large image]](the-rta-plan.jpg "The RTA Plan [Click for large image]")