20.3.01 RAPS DEMAND A PUBLIC APOLOGY FROM RTA

Community members to the disastrous M5 East Stack consultation process were last night accused by senior RTA managers of being dishonest and deliberately sabotaging a community consultation meeting.

The monthly meeting was interrupted by the unexpected arrival of a television crew researching the flawed community consultation process (Click Here to view the Channel 10 news video) and the reaction of local residents to the unfiltered M5 East stack under construction in the Turrella valley. RTA managers John Anderson and Greg Butler, demanded the TV crew to leave and then locked the doors. They proceeded to level angry accusations at the two RAPS members there, accusing them of orchestrating the visit, and then called off the meeting.

Graham Penfold, one of the RAPS members described the vehement accusations as highly offensive and an insult to his integrity:

"We were as surprised as they were, yet they repeatedly accused us of ‘betrayal of trust’. We have put a lot of our own time, effort and money into trying to right a government inflicted nightmare. Not only are we muzzled, but also slandered and insulted! Unlike the RTA, we have never had anything to hide," said an enraged Penfold." Last night, the RTA actually had two unannounced ‘visitors’ observing the meeting from a side room. When challenged, it turned out they were members of Vic Roads, (who’ve been dealing with the leaks and air pollution problems from the troubled Burnley tunnel). We had not even been informed of their presence, let alone asked!"

The RTA managers, without reference to the chairman, claimed emotions were too heated, and demanded that all leave the premises immediately. Yet all the community members wanted the meeting to continue because there were many important issues to discuss.

Mark Curran, the other RAPS member present, who bore the brunt of this angry attack commented "When the TV crews arrived, we had all been discussing the RTA’s latest botched attempt at consultation- a crucial survey questionnaire has just been distributed at great public cost to 3,000 local residents without any input from the meeting. Part of the subregional air quality plan required by the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning, the survey apparently questions the kind of heaters and lawn mowers residents use, as well as transport and vehicle usage. All the community members were objecting to the fact it had been sent out without us seeing it first. We had a lot of positive suggestions to add to this survey!"

"This dismissive, contemptuous attitude to the public by senior RTA managers is alarming. They had invited strangers to a supposedly closed consultation meeting and then, because of some unexpected interruption, took over from the’ independent’ chairman and cancelled the only forum residents have against the clear wishes of all community members. We demand radical reform of this farcical consultation process and a clear and sincere apology for this intolerable public attack on our integrity. If the RTA managers, Anderson and Butler cannot do it, then they are not fit to be where they are".