The impact of the soon to open West Gate Tunnel (WGTP) on air-quality in the inner-west will be more closely scrutinised, with extra monitors located near its ventilation stacks.
New monitors have been deployed at Yarraville Gardens near the tunnel’s north ventilation stack, and at McIvor Reserve just to the north of the southern stack in Yarraville. A third monitor will soon be added to the south of the southern stack in Edwards Reserve in South Kingsville.
The new monitors, which will measure the impact of vehicle emissions from both the tunnel’s ventilation stacks on nearby air-quality, were agreed to following a meeting between the Maribyrnong Truck Action Group (MTAG) and Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos.
MTAG president Martin Wurt said the addition of monitoring stations at McIvor Reserve and Edwards Reserve was particularly important.
“This will fill a gaping hole in monitoring at the southern stack – both to the north and south. There wasn’t monitoring around that southern stack and the nearest house is only 150m away,” Mr Wurt said.
“We’ll never know what we’re being exposed to without proper monitoring.”
Mr Wurt said the group also secured the release of daily air-quality monitoring data once the tunnel is open, something Mr Dimopoulos confirmed.
“EPA will also publish daily monitoring results in a monthly report and meet with Maribyrnong City Council and community organisations six months into operation to discuss the monitoring and make sure the project meets environmental standards,” Mr Dimopoulos said in a statement.
Despite these developments, MTAG’s continued demand for filters to be installed on both ventilation stacks went unheaded, with Mr Dimopoulos expressing faith in the Environment Protection Authority Victoria’s (EPA) advice that filters were not required.
Mr Wurt said scientific knowledge on the impact of air pollution had advanced since the EPA decided against recommending filters in 2017 and wanted a conference to be held on the matter before giving final approval.
A spokesperson for the EPA said development licence had already been given to WGTP operators Transurban and its task now was to ensure it complied with that license.
