M5 East Tunnel Air Pollution



About this Item
SubjectsEnvironment; Health; Pollution: Air; Tunnels; Roads: M5 East; Motorists
SpeakersPresident; Rhiannon Ms Lee; Roozendaal The Hon Eric
BusinessQuestions Without Notice


    M5 EAST TUNNEL AIR POLLUTION
Page: 22205


    Ms LEE RHIANNON: I direct my question without notice to the Minister for Roads. Considering that Premier Iemma told Sydney radio last week that the Roads and Traffic Authority had not ignored the recommendations of the 2003 NSW Health report into risks for drivers in the M5 East tunnel, and that a brochure on that issue had been distributed, would the Minister provide details of where on the brochure, or anywhere else, is the warning for motorists in open vehicles and motorcyclists to avoid using the tunnel when transits through the M5 East tunnel are likely to be prolonged? When was the brochure put out? How was it distributed? How many were distributed? Where are the signs warning users of the need to wind up windows when travelling through the M5 East tunnel? Where are the new, more appropriate, guidelines for better standards for nitrogen dioxide in tunnels, and in particular the M5 East, where traffic volumes are now 25 per cent more than they were in 2003 when NSW Health brought down those recommendations?

    The Hon. ERIC ROOZENDAAL: I am deeply impressed that the honourable member chose to ask me a question about one of the most successful pieces of road infrastructure in this State. The M5 East, which is an extremely successful piece of infrastructure, is greatly utilised by motorists and by the New South Wales community. There is an interesting conflict in the question asked by the honourable member. The honourable member and other Greens members are publicly opposed to all motorways. They want to send us back to the Stone Age of goat tracks and the use of horses and buggies to get around.

    The M5 East issue has been widely canvassed. There is information about tunnel safety on the web site of the Roads and Traffic Authority. I urge all honourable members to review that information because it is important for them to be aware of issues relating to tunnel safety. The ongoing development of infrastructure, as part of the Sydney orbital system, will provide Sydneysiders with an opportunity to travel right around Sydney using first-grade, world-class infrastructure. As the M5 East issue has already been widely canvassed, I refer the honourable member to my previous answers.

    The PRESIDENT: Order! I call the Hon. Eddie Obeid to order for the first time.