MEDIA RELEASE 2 MAY 2001
STACK WILL EXCEED AIR POLLUTION GOALS
Evidence presented to the Upper House Parliamentary Inquiry into the M5 East ventilation stack during yesterday afternoons hearing revealed that exceedences of air quality goals by the M5 East ventilation stack were inevitable.
Calculations based on modelling presented by the Chief Research Scientist of the CSIRO Atmospheric Pollution Research Program, show that 4 exceedences would have taken place in January alone if the tunnel and stack had been in operation. The Inquiry also heard that emissions from the stack would increase the number of deaths caused by air pollution in the local area by at least 1% per year. Dr Peter Mannins confirmed that the stack was poorly sited, and used a graphic video of air quality modeling showing dramatic effects of the pollution for several kilometres around the stack.
It has also been revealed that the power and influence of the RTA has reached far beyond the International Tunnel Ventilation Workshop. Documents tabled before the Parliament at the request of Committee Chair, the Hon Richard Jones MLC, show that the Health Department did not want to weigh in against the RTA on the air quality impacts of the stack.
A memo from the Manager of the Environmental Health Branch of NSW Health to the Director of the Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion states that:
"My only concern is that this is a hot political issue at the moment and that by saying this we are weighing in against the RTA. It would not be a good look for us to be arguing with them in public…"
This revelation came on the back of an admission forced from the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning that while their so called strenuous conditions theoretically require Electrostatic Precipitators (ESPs) to be installed within 6 months of an exceedence of air quality goals, in practice the RTA could take 60 weeks or 14 months to do the work!
The DUAP conditions also do not and cannot address the emission of PM2.5s unless proponent or Environment Protection Authority modify the conditions. Despite the fact that CSIRO has identified PM2.5s as being far more harmful than PM10s and the emission of them is likely to increase well into the future.
It was also established during the course of the afternoon’s evidence that the Committee has received a quote that would provide for ESPs to be attached to the portals of the tunnel for a mere $13m. Such action would reduce the PMs emitted from the stack by half and be virtually paid for by $10m set aside for the recent inadequate Property Value Guarantee offer.
These matters will no doubt be followed up with community, health, technical experts and representatives of international filtration firms who will be presenting more detailed evidence during the next and final public hearing from 9am-1pm on Thursday, 3 May in the Jubilee Room, Parliament House.
Media Contacts : Giselle Mawer: 04111 07153 / 9558 3943, Mark Curran 9558 8863,
Charles Briers: 0407 022 242 or Ricc Rossi: 9558 4977 / 04402 336211.