1978
F5 proposal a roadway from Redfern to Liverpool. To be supplemented by freeway up Cooks River valley (Kyeemagh to Chullora option)
Resident opposition to these projects led Premier Wran to appoint barrister David Kirby (now Justice Kirby of the Supreme Court) to conduct an inquiry into the projects (the Kyeemagh-Chullora Road Inquiry).
1980
David Kirby recommended that freight be moved by rail from Chullora
to Port Botany and that the Wolli Creek valley be retained as
open space. The Wran government was officially set to adopt the
findings of the inquiry but opposition from the road transport
industry forced Cabinet to shelve it.
1988
Greiner government brought down an EIS for elevated roadway through Wolli Creek valley. The EIS discredited and Greiner Government retreated from the proposal
1994
June New M5 East EIS released, roadway now between King Georges Road and General Holmes Drive, featuring 3.1 km tunnel under Earlwood and possibly 1.4 km tunnel extension under Turrella.
1995
Nov RTA approaches residents whose homes likely to be affected
by stacks
1996
Supplement to the EIS released. Tunnel under Bexley North, Bardwell Park, Turrella and Arncliffe the "preferred option". Three 15m high exhaust stacks, two in Arncliffe, one in Bardwell Park. Emissions to be untreated, unfiltered.
Sept M5 East Co-ordination Group formally endorsed by 130 Bardwell Park residents.
3 Nov NSW government announcement that the "preferred option" for the M5 East roadway is a 30m wide tunnel under Bexley North, Bardwell Park, Turrella and Arncliffe.
5 Nov M5 East Co-ordination Group position stated:
1997
June Carl Scully announces the three stack plan, as presented in the EIS to be replaced by single superstack stack (up to 40 m high, 15 m wide) in industrial area at Turrella. The industrial area is 300 metres long and 200 metres wide. The worst effects of the stack's plume would come to ground outside the industrial area. RTA's glossy leaflet announcing the change never distributed in newly affected areas of Turrella, Undercliffe and Earlwood.
The single stack to pump emissions from 21 million vehicle movements a year, located in a valley with a tunnel 900m long linking it to the road tunnel. Electricity to run the fan system to cost $3m pa and generate 28 tonnes of greenhouse gases pa.
Over 200 changes to what was exhibited as Supplement to the EIS eg 800m tunnel under Cooks River where formerly a bridge was proposed, motorway now under King Georges Road and Coolangatta Road, one stack in valley not three on high ground etc.
350 representations made to DUAP
27 Aug RTA Representations Report sent to DUAP
Holmes Air Sciences, "Ideally the stacks should be located on high ground."
DUAP prepares Environmental Impact Assessment. Much of investigation commissioned or carried out by RTA labelled"inadequate" or issues not addressed.
9 Dec Mr Craig Knowles, Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning announces approval for M5 East with many open-ended conditions. Document available from DUAP, $75.
1998
19 Feb
Transport Action Group Against Motorways (TAGAM) challenged validity
of
M5 East approval when no EIS for substantial changes from 1996
proposal.
Action supported by M5 East Coalition:
o Residents Against Polluting Stacks
o M5 East Community Co-ordination Group
o Wolli Creek Preservation Society
o Transport Action Group Against Motorways Inc
o Rockdale Wetland Preservation Society
o Rockdale and District Landscape Heritage Committee
o Canterbury-Hurstville Residents Action Group - M5
12 Mar M5 East Coalition requested Canterbury Council assistance
with legal expenses for Land and Environment Court action. Rejected.
14 Sep Beginning of three week hearing, TAGAM Vs RTA M5 East in Land and Environment Court
25 Nov TAGAM action in Land and Environment Court dismissed.
Justice Neil Bignold:
"There will be benefits to those
living in areas where the stacks have been removed from. Similarly,
there could be potential adverse impacts on those living near
the new stack location. It is probable that the overall number
of people affected by the stack emissions will be less for the
current proposal than for the 1996 proposal."
(page 25)
Significant that Justice Bignold agreed no EIS had been done, had read and heard expert comment that RTA investigations "inadequate', aware that different people likely to be affected and these not given opportunity to comment. Detemined that ongoing assessment by RTA fulfils requirements of Sect iii of Environment and Planning Assessment Act.
17 Dec Canterbury Council passed motion supporting residents in demand for abandonment of M5 East stack, support for green ban on its construction
Road reservation for Wolli Creek valley lifted, residents notified.
Negotiations for land acquisitions by National Parks and Wildlife officers concluded. Wolli Creek can be declared a regional park to be administered by a board of management under National Parks and Wildlife umbrella. Announcement scheduled for Dec then delayed....
1999
7 Jan Canterbury Council issue strongly worded press release to local press supporting construction of M5 East as tunnel, praising retention of Wolli Creek valley bushland and supporting residents in demand for abandonment of M5 East stack, support for green ban on its construction and stating that ir would investigate the engagement of Dr Noel Child to identify air quality imapcts of single stack proposal and provide alternative options for treatment of exhaust emissions from M5 East tunnel.
27 Jan Canterbury Council voted to formally engage Dr Noel Child. Approached Rockdale and Marrickville Councils to assist with funding. Rejected.
28 Jan Rockdale Council states its official
position as, "no stacks in residential areas,
M5 East should be tunnel under original road reservation."
??
9 Feb Rockdale Council re-states its official position as "no stacks". It supports an open road through the valley.
23 March RAPS members and Canterbury Council's consultant meet with Carl Scully and two RTA representatives. Mr Scully say he relies on advice of the RTA. If there's aproblem with that advice he'd like to know. Asked to meet with group once air quality report released.
April Canterbury
Council released air quality consultant's report: the single stack
proposal will pose "unacceptable and unreasonable health
risks" on the local population.
Mr Child recommends that council unequivocally oppose the stack
in its current form.
May RAPS members and Canterbury Council's consultant meet with Carl Scully and two RTA representatives. Mr Scully a "road-builder". Had two years of grief over road proposal. Decision political but stack staying in Turrella.
18 June 2-1 decision against TAGAM handed down in Supreme Court.
Justice Fitzgerald:"It is clear that the alterations to the December 1996 proposal will impose new, significant, detrimental effects on different localities and different persons from those who had the opportunity to make representations with respect to the December 1996 proposal...RTA should not be allowed to carry out the December 1997 proposal until another EIS has been duly notified and exhibited in respect of the alterations to the December 1996 proposal."Justice Mason:"...even though elements of the modifications were open-ended, none of them could have conceivably constituted a 'radical' change of the originally proposed activity."Justice Sheller: "The RTA, acting in the capacity of the determining authority, made a decision which should not be challenged by this Court simply because some other body on the same material might legitimately have reached a different view."
21 June Marrickville Council passed motion 6-5 calling on State government to abandon M5 East roadway
24 June Canterbury Council passed motion to support anti-stack rally, 18 July, Gough Whitlam Park, Undercliffe.