Angry and frustrated residents formed a picket line at Turrella this morning to prevent delivery trucks entering and leaving the construction site of the M5 East unfiltered stack. They presented an extraordinary sight as working class, family-orientated people, most of whom had never been involved in direct action, refused to move because of their total commitment to opposing the stack. They were joined by Marrickville Councillors, Sylvia Hale and Sam Byrnes: "We are prepared to come down to this site every morning until this issue is resolved. We're fed up with not being listened to."

"We have been reasonable for over three years and have exhausted all other channels. We're fed up with the buckpassing. The findings of the International Workshop and the Parliamentary Inquiry are being totally ignored. The RTA says it is governed by what DUAP (the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning) decides. DUAP tells us they're planning to approve a 35m unfiltered stack and that only Carl Scully can make any changes. The EPA claims the air quality goals will be met, but we know they don't take into account the long term or local impacts. The Health Department tells us not to worry, but the CSIRO has just come out saying that the unfiltered stack will cause exceedences, and that it needs to be 50m high to be safe. The government continues to play with people's lives, treating our communities with unbelievable contempt." commented Charles Briers.

Demonstrators are concerned that Carl Scully continues to be misled by the RTA. The Minister is now downplaying the dangers of the particulate matter that will be emitted from the stack, and overestimating the cost of filtration. However, as Professor Ray Kearney, Faculty of Medicine, Sydney University points out, there is clear evidence from the Health
Department itself, that these particles present one of the greatest threats to health since the 19th Century. And the CSIRO just releases shows the particulate levels could well be double what was estimated.

Three police cars, five paddy wagons and around twelve police were called to the site where close to fifty people gathered. Filmed by Channels 2 and 9, several demonstrators were detained. Ric Rossi, a local resident, was angry and upset as he watched his wife being forcibly removed. "It is a disgrace that normal law abiding citizens are faced with no alternatives but direct action.

Demonstrators will meet at the site at 6.30 a.m. every morning and urge everyone to join them at Henderson St Turrella, next to Turrella station.