R A P S Residents Against Polluting Stacks Inc, Sydney NSW Australia www.nostack.8m.com
IMPORTANT NEWS…..IMPORTANT NEWS……IMPORTANT NEWS……IMPORTANT NEWS
MAY/JUNE 2008 NEWSLETTER
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- RAPS MEETS AGAIN WITH RTA ENGINEERS
At our meeting with the RTA this week, we were pleased to find that plans for the ceiling mounted trial and the provision of flexibility at the Bexley North end of the tunnel are going ahead. The RTA told us that Registration Of Interest documents for the in-ceiling trial at the eastern end of the tunnel will be issued for established providers of filtration technology in about 4-6 weeks. Clearly, the aim of the project must be to achieve significant improvements both inside and outside of the tunnel. We have continued to ask that, as far as technology is concerned, the documents should define the outcomes desired and the essential constraints on the project.and not prescribe how they should be achieved. We pointed out the importance of a robust process and that we wished to have input as to the desired outcomes rather than on the technical detail. The necessity for vigorous testing and validation of equipment performance was noted and re-affirmed. We further pointed out the need for co-operation with councils etc. for the upper Wolli Creek remediation, especially in relation to water cleaning and nutrient capture problems. RAPS suggested involving environmental engineers and the RTA appeared receptive to consultation in the future. At the RTA’s request, a RAPS’ representive provided details of contacts with groups concerned with the Wolli Creek remediation. At an earlier meeting in May we raised the issue of re-definition of tunnel operational conditions (currently based on CO only), pointing out that other tunnel conditions were more stringent and that the growth of knowledge had made this even more important, especially in relation to particle exposure. It appears that, in spite of RAPS’ efforts, neither the results of the ceiling mounted EP trial nor its more stringent standards and performance requirements will influence the technology to be used for the filtration plant at Bexley Road. The Bexley North plant is using the same design requirements in the Expression of Interest completed exactly 4 years ago (June 2004) including the trial of the unproven, but very expensive nitrogen dioxide removal system which will add no environmental benefit because of its small size. RAPS will be meeting with the RTA again in about a month’s time to look over the environmental and performance aspects of the ROI documents. These include issues such as efficiency, performance monitoring, maintenance, waste disposal and energy effeciency.
- THE DEMISE OF THE AIR QUALITY COMMUNITY LIASON GROUP?
On Monday evening the AQCLG met for the first time since 6th August, 2007. A planned meeting for the 19th November was cancelled at the request of the RTA on the grounds that there was insufficient business to discuss. This was not the case as, amongst other things, RAPS was going to report on its meeting with the Department of Planning, the RTA and the Minister on issues of significant interest and importance to the community. One significant item of business was the announcement by the RTA that it had initiated the process of applying to Planning NSW for changes to the M5 Conditions of Approval to abolish the present AQCLG. This appears to be an attempt to get rid of the over-10 years of accumulated experience of the group and replace it with something which they can control, without powers and the right to receive and question monitoring and other data. Every community member present at the meeting spoke strongly against the proposal, pointing out that there was still a demonstrable need for the group and this need would continue until the tunnel’s air quality performance had finally been fixed. In fact, we argued that people around the portals and drivers needed to be included in an expanded committee. As the winding down of the AQCLG requires a change to the M5 Conditions of Approval., it is to be expected that Planning NSW will require a full assessment of the change including a call for public submissions especially in the light of strong resistance shown to the proposal both during the initial Partial Portal Emissions application process and at last Monday’s meeting. The RTA then reported on progress with the filtration station at Bexley North and on the new vent tunnel which would be about 250m long instead of the previously estimated 500m. New provision was also being made for an off-take inside the tunnel close to the crossover to allow for a possible later modification in the filter design and operation. The RTA further confirmed that there would be a trial of in-tunnel filtration in the eastbound tunnel although this had already been announced in the press in March this year. On other business, RAPS was able to report to the remainder of the community on its meetings since August last year, on the progress with the design of the new in-tunnel filtration system and to share the video taken of the filtration systems in operation in Madrid with the other members.
- STATE BUDGET SUPPORTS FILTRATION
The recent state budget contained an allocation of $40 million this year and foreshadowed an allocation of $25 million next year for the filtration trial. This is. of course, welcome news and confirms that the government is no longer dusmissing filtration as a “won’t work”. However, we are still concerned that greater benefit with the money could be achieved with better processes, planning and design. RTA research, drawing on the Madrid experience, is that the Europeans appear to achieve much more clean air for a lot less money than tht RTA seems to be able to achieve. We can’t but wonder why, if the cost of the filter is the same, the cost of project management, excavation and administrative costs can be so much higher in NSW.
- NEW TUNNEL FOR TRUCKS?
Will the M5 East score another tunnel? Who knows? A largely un-noted provision in the Federal Budget was $20 million for a feasibility study for the duplication of the M5 tunnel. In fact, the whole of the M5 is close to capacity, so that the provision of another tunnel would not significantly increase the number of vehicles which can use the corridor and for this to happen, then most of the motorway would require duplication. It surprises us that at a time when the world is running out of oil, the Federal govenmner thinks it’s worth doing yet another feasibility study of another tunnel! Budget aids two Sydney transport plans http:www.smh.com.au:80/news/national/two-route-for-metro-plan/2008/05
- BRISBANE TO BE STACKED
At least seven 25 metre stacks will be erected along new tunnel routes in Brisbane. Naturally residents are worried about the impact of fine particle pollution. An environmental impact study found that health inpacts were negligible and council argues that the plan will do away with congested traffic on neighbourhood roads and that the stacks will disperse polllution 25 metres into the air instead of at ground level. Ten years after RAPS started its campaign, there’s a definite sense of déjà vue regarding the Brisbane experience! http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23785198-3102,00.html ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ RAPS Inc. is an incorpotated 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 to check when our next meeting is on. RAPS Inc is funded entirely by $10 membership fees and community donations and volunteer time. We currently have significant costs, and need to build up funds for ongoing outlays such as public liability insurance well and 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 www.nostack.8m.comRAPS 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.lctag.com
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