R A P S Residents Against Polluting Stacks Inc, Sydney NSW Australia http://www.nostack.8m.com/
O C T O B E R 2 0 0 7 N E W S R A P S #1 NEWS……NEWS……NEWS……NEWS……NEWS……NEWS……
01 M5 EAST FILTRATION PLANT CONSTRUCTION STARTS OCTOBER 02 RTA/PLANNING/RAPS TO MEET ON M5 TUNNEL FILTRATION IN OCTOBER 03 ANTI-FILTRATION ENGINEER RETIRES FROM RTA
B R I E F w R A P S
* RAPS gets several specific mentions in A Review of Air Quality Community Education a recent paper published by Macquarie University’s Australian Research Institute in Education for Sustainability on recent national and international air quality programs http://www.aries.mq.edu.au/pdf/AirQualityComEdMar07.pdf and http://www.aries.mq.edu.au/. * RAPS has been invited to attend the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change’s Clean Air Forum on November 23rd. * Gone too soon. Mary Jane Gleeson, member of Ecotransit Sydney and the Greens, and long time friend of RAPS has died after a short battle with cancer. http://www.smh.com.au/news/obituaries/battler-saved-houses-pubs–and-the-family-rooster/2007/10/04/1191091274076.html * CSIRO report for NSW government, Climate Change in the Sydney Metropolitan Catchments http://www.botanybay.info/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/070216_sydneydetailedfinal1.pdf * The Most environmentally-destructive development (metropolitan) at this year’s Green’s Bad Developer Awards went to the Port Enfield inter-modal freight centre which is driven by the expansion of Port Botany and will see thousands of trucks travelling through some of Sydney’s most densely populated suburbs twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. http://www.sylvia.nsw.greens.org.au/modules.php?op=modload&name=PagEd&file=index&topictoview=12&tabno=4 * Over 1500 people have been surveyed and 300 people recruited to the Diary Study sections of the Lane Cove Tunnel Air Quality and Respiratory Health Study http://www.woolcock.org.au/air.htm * The NSW Government has (underwhelmingly!) responded to the Recommendations of the Inquiry into the Health Impacts of Air Pollution in the Sydney Basin. http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/PARLMENT/Committee.nsf/0/0E5CDC94A080D074CA25722800012331 * Just how much are community rights being eroded under ongoing changes to the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979? http://www.step.org.au/envplanning_EDO.pdf * Community say? Ex MP Carl Scully, now a principal at consultancy firm Evans and Peck will attend the NSW Transport Infrastructure Summit 1-2 November http://www.botanybay.info/?p=281
Unfortunately, you need $ 2300.00 for a seat at the conference. * The Federal government has announced the results of an independent Review of the F3 to M7 Corridor Selection in Sydney’s north west. http://www.ministers.dotars.gov.au/jl/releases/2007/September/L066_2007.htm and http://www.dotars.gov.au/roads/F3toM7Review/index.aspx.and.and http://www.step.org.au/envplanning_EDO.pdf * U.S. researchers have found that tiny particles of pollution can trigger clotting of the blood - a finding which explains how air pollution causes heart attacks and strokes. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070920/hl_nm/heart_pollution_dc_1 * Lane Cove MP Anthony Roberts latest question on traffic numbers http://parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/PARLMENT/hansArt.nsf/V3Key/LA20060905031. He is also seeking to introduce a Private Members Bill into NSW Parliament seeking Lane Cove Tunnel filtration: http://www.madas.net.au/
01 M5 EAST FILTRATION PLANT CONSTRUCTION STARTS OCTOBER
The NSW RTA has this week advertised in local papers and written to local communities with details on construction programming of the M5 East filtration plant. To summarise its document * Plant located eastern side of Bexley Road at Wolli Avenue, Earlwood * RTA has withdrawn its request to the Department of Planning for partial portal emissions at this time * Filtration plant building approximately 60 metres x 40 metres x 8 metres for the filtration system, a water recycling plant, ventilation fans, offices and an information centre and viewing area. * Filtration system includes electrostatic precipitators for the removal of PM10 particulates and a denitrification unit to remove nitrogen dioxide from the tunnel air. * A 300m long vent tunnel will connect to the M5 East main westbound tunnel to extract air to the filtration plant and return the treated air to the main tunnel. * Monitoring program to be developed with the Department of Planning, the EPA and NSW Health. * Construction and commissioning works expected to take approximately 18 months. * Site establishment is planned for September 2007 and is expected to take approximately four weeks to complete. More information * RTA website: http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/constructionmaintenance/downloads/m5east-air/filtration_plant_cu_dl1.html http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/constructionmaintenance/completedprojects/m5east/tunnelfiltrationplant.html * M5 East Community Information Line: 1800 667 199 * Email: m5eastfiltration_community@bh.com.au * RAPS position: http://savewollicreek.8m.com/ 02 RTA/PLANNING/RAPS TO MEET ON M5 TUNNEL FILTRATION
In recent action, RAPS met last month with Planning Director General Sam Haddad where the probity of the RTA actions, the consequences of the pilot filtration approval and future implications for Planning were discussed. We pointed out concerns about Planning Minister Sartor’s approval of the filtration plant independently of consideration of portal emissions when the two are an integral part of the same proposal. RAPS asked once again that the ‘no portal emissions occur unless in emergencies’ condition be reinforced by Planning. We are concerned that if (and when) the ineffective and costly pilot filtration plant does not clear the haze in the tunnel, the RTA will apply to use the portals to discharge dirty, unfiltered emissions. As a result of the meeting Mr Haddad has facilitated a mid October meeting for RAPS with Planning and the RTA. * Summary of recent RAPS actions here: http://www.wollicreek.org.au/updates/update_0907.pdf * RAPS position: http://savewollicreek.8m.com/ * RTA submission : http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/asp/pdf/06_0290_mod1_m5east_submissionsreport.pdf * Ministers determination at http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/asp/ndetermination.asp 03 ANTI-FILTRATION ENGINEER RETIRES FROM RTA
This week saw the retirement from the RTA of Engineer, Gary Humphry who had been responsible for ensuring that the M5 East remains without efficient, cost effective filtration. It has amazed us that Humphry, a known long term opponent of filtration, was placed in such a position to be able to influence the outcome of a tender and negotiations over the filtration system. We wait to see if his retirement will result in any changes in the RTA’s filtration position - a position which is becoming harder and harder for it to maintain in the light of overseas’ developments and statements that future tunnels, including the proposed M4 East and the F3 Beecroft to Pennant Hills extension, will be filtered.
RAPS Inc is an incorporated community group representing residents and workers affected by the M5 East tunnel, ventilation stack and portals. We meet on one Tuesday night of the month at Earlwood Bowling Club, Doris Ave Earlwood NSW, Australia. Please email us if you are thinking of attending to confirm that the meeting is on. cbri7447@bigpond.com RAPS Inc is funded entirely by $10 membership fees and community donations. We receive no grants from council or government bodies. We currently have significant costs, and need to build up funds for ongoing outlays such as public liability insurance as well well as professional advice and help. Please help us to keep going by sending a donation to:
PO Box 270 Earlwood NSW 2206 Australia
Telephone: 061 02 9558 8863, 061 02 9573 0052, 061 02 9559 1278 http://www.botanybay.info/wp-admin/ RAPS Inc is a member of GASP, Groups Against Stack Pollution, a coalition of community groups with similar aims and objectives affected by similar stacks from around Sydney’s Cross City and Lane Cove tunnels. http://www.botanybay.info/wp-admin/ Our email list is maintained in confidence at the sending address only. To subscribe, unsubscribe or change email addresses for this newsletter reply to this email or send an email to cbri7447@bigpond.com with “ADD TO MAILING LIST” or “DELETE FROM MAILING LIST” in the subject line.
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