Residents of Melbourne’s western suburbs have launched a last-ditch legal effort to urge the state’s environment watchdog to consider retrofitting pollution filters on the West Gate Tunnel’s ventilation stacks.
The $10 billion toll road, currently under construction, is expected to carry up to 70,000 vehicles daily, but emissions from the tunnel will not be filtered.
The Maribyrnong Truck Action Group (MTAG), through Environmental Justice Australia, has sent an urgent legal request to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), seeking further consultation with residents.
This move comes as concerns grow over the potential health impacts on a community already burdened with poor air quality.
The municipality of Maribyrnong faces significant health challenges, with disease rates approximately 40 per cent higher than the state average and hospitalisation rates due to air pollution exceeding the national average.
Yarraville resident Glen Yates, who lives near one of the ventilation stacks, expressed worry about his family’s health, citing his own respiratory issues and the need for multiple air filtration units in his home.
Martin Wurt, MTAG president, stated: “The West Gate Tunnel removing trucks from local roads is very welcome, but not filtering the vent stacks is a lost opportunity to reduce pollution in a heavily polluted community.”
He highlighted the need for immediate action, given the area’s high rates of air pollution-related illnesses.
Environmental Justice Australia lawyer Elke Nicholson highlighted the EPA’s obligation to engage with affected communities under current legislation.
She argued that relying on consultations from seven years ago is inadequate, given the new environmental laws and increased knowledge about air pollution’s health impacts.
The project has faced significant opposition, with 460 out of 500 community submissions opposing it before approval.
Despite initial recommendations for air pollution control in the ventilation systems, the EPA’s 2017 approval did not mandate immediate installation of filtration systems.
This issue is part of a larger concern about pollution in Melbourne’s west. In 2023, Maribyrnong City Council declared a health emergency due to air and noise pollution from heavy trucks.
The area reports adolescent asthma rates 50 per cent higher than the state average and significantly higher hospitalisation rates for respiratory issues.
As the West Gate Tunnel project progresses, the community’s push for pollution filters represents a critical moment in the ongoing debate about environmental justice and public health in Melbourne’s western suburbs.
