West Gate Tunnel ventilation stacks leave residents exposed to truck pollution

The report states that fumes will likely drift down the façade of the structure, greatly increasing exposure to pollution at nearby residences, sports fields and businesses.

“[The] The design has an unusual and complex geometry and does not comply with the principles of good engineering practice.

“The surrounding residential community is likely to experience increased adverse health outcomes, including increased levels of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.”

The report concludes that adding pollution filters is the only viable option to reduce harmful fumes in a way comparable to best practice, such as the cylindrical structure built for the Burnley Tunnel.

Martin Wurt, president of the truck action group, said the organization had raised $25,000 from concerned community members to pay for the report and had engaged Maurice Blackburn lawyers to lead its fight with the EPA.

Wurt wants the environmental authority to agree to hold a formal meeting, known as an interested parties’ conference, to discuss Transurban’s application for an operating license and add a condition for installing filtration.

The environmental authority has not yet responded to MTAG’s request but has 15 working days to decide on Transurban’s application. Wurt said he would consider legal action.

“It is so worrying that the design of these ventilation shafts, which should make them look nice, has been modeled in a way that creates a harmful effect.” [with regard] against pollution,” Wurt said. “There’s nothing better down there than a bathroom exhaust fan.”

The report modeled the southern vent at Altona North but says the same results would apply to the northern structure.

The Altona North vent will affect more homes, with an estimated 10,000 people expected to live within 500 meters of the polluting structure once major housing developments on the brownfields on either side are completed.

Meanwhile, the Yarraville vent is predicted to cause highly toxic fumes for residents living above the structure.

Sarah Tartakover can see this vent down the hill from her street in Yarraville. He said he felt betrayed because he wanted to trust that fewer trucks on local streets would mean cleaner air.

“Instead, it could be worse for me because the pollution will intensify,” Tartaover said.

“It feels like a Trojan horse. The more attractive the structure, the more treacherous it also becomes.

“There is no good argument for not installing filters. The EPA’s responsibility is to take care of our health.”

Wurt met with Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos in June to discuss the new engineering report. Three new air quality monitors were then installed in key areas near the vents. EPA will discuss the results with the community six months after the tunnel is put into operation.

An EPA spokesman said that in approving project work, the authority determined that ground-level emissions from the vents would be low. He said close air monitoring once the tunnel is open will direct the need to replace filters.

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Air quality data will be published monthly on the EPA website starting in late November.

Dimopoulos’ office and Transurban have been contacted for comment.

In 2017, the project’s government-appointed advisory committee recommended installing pollution filters. The then planning minister, Richard Wynne, was not convinced they were justified or cost-effective.

EPA accepted and approved the work with the condition that vents be constructed to allow for future filter installation if warranted.

Environmental Protection Act it has since been updated to give the EPA a “preventive focus.”

Air pollution filters have been installed in tunnels in Norway, the Netherlands, France, Japan, Austria, Italy, Germany, South Korea and Spain.

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