WESTERN suburbs residents concerned about the impacts of diesel
pollution have welcomed recommendations made by the federal government’s
air quality Senate inquiry.
The inquiry report, released last week, calls for a national
emissions standard for diesel engines and retrofitting diesel vehicles
with exhaust treatment devices, as well as buffer zones around industry
activities and transport routes.
Western suburbs Greens MP Colleen Hartland said the findings would
set off alarm bells throughout the community, particularly close to air
pollution sources like inner-west truck and diesel train routes.
“The inquiry heard repeated calls for more stringent air quality
standards across the 162 submissions; the community is justifiably very
concerned.”
Ms Hartland said the inquiry merely confirmed the concerns that
had been raised more than a decade ago on western suburbs truck routes
and diesel train lines. “This inquiry found that, just as every
cigarette is doing you harm, every diesel particulate emission is doing
you harm,” she said.
The inquiry identified a strong link between diesel particulates
and life expectancy, with children and the elderly most at risk.
Maribyrnong Truck Action Group president Samantha McArthur wants
the Environment Protection Authority to consider revising its target
levels to better reflect the risk of emissions.
“Surely the government needs to look at solutions that would take more of these trucks off residential streets.”
