- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
R A P S Residents Against Polluting Stacks, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
NEWS..........NEWS..........NEWS..........NEWS..........NEWS..........NEWS..........NEWS
NEWS..........NEWS..........NEWS..........NEWS..........NEWS..........NEWS..…....NEWS
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
JANUARY 2005 NEWSLETTER
A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR SUPPORTERS
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
M5E EXCEEDENCE
M4 NEWS - GOVT.GAZETTES LOCAL ROADS
ASHFIELD COUNCIL DONATES TO RAPS
LANE COVE COUNCIL REQUESTS MEETING WITH HON. MICHAEL COSTA
FREE STICKERS – "UNFILTERED TUNNELS POISON PEOPLE"
RAPS WEBSITE UPDATED
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
M5 EAST EXCEEDENCE – January, 13th 2005
Particle pollution levels (PM10) exceeded the air quality goal of 50 micrograms
per cubic metre limit at the Wavell Pde, Undercliffe (X1) air monitoring station
on Thursday 13th January. The main impact was between 6am and 3pm, on the areas
around Undercliffe, Earlwood and possibly Marrickville and Dulwich Hill. There
is evidence to suggest that the Earlwood monitoring station was also affected
by stack emissions.
A key condition of approval states that should a single exceedence of the air quality goals occur, the RTA "shall install electro-static precipitators within 6 months…". Yet the RTA has cynically dismissed the exceedence by posting a misleading assessment report on its website asserting that "Further investigations have confirmed that a Sydney wide regional pollution event, not stack emissions, were the cause of elevated levels of PM10." This is a blatant misrepresentation. Apart from the M5 station X1, the only other exceedences of the PM10 air quality goals were at Bringelly and Campbelltown, 35 km west and south west of the stack. The X1 air quality station was surrounded by other stations which did not show exceedences.
RAPS has written to the EPA and DIPNR to voice its grave concerns about the RTA's misleading analysis, pointing out inconsistencies, requesting that it be rejected and that any further analysis by the RTA be subjected to independent peer review.
Several residents living close to the Undercliffe monitoring station reported that they felt ill and could smell vehicle exhaust on the 13th. Anyone who feels they may have been affected by the high pollution levels should formally lodge a complaint with the RTA on 99633221, and also let us know about it. Visit our website for our media release and air pollution data and this week's Valley Times article : www.saveswollicreek.8m.com
M4 NEWS – STATE GOVT. GAZETTES CONTROL OF LOCAL ROADS
The State Government has gazetted control over several local roads in the Ashfield
Municipality. Recent amendments to the NSW Roads Act will allow the RTA to carry
out exploratory drilling work for the EIS without approval from the council.
Ashfield Council has already taken the RTA to the Supreme Court for carrying
out drilling near Reg Coady Reserve, Haberfield without its permission. The
council won the case, but this new government legislation ensures that the RTA
is given even more powers to ride slipshod over local councils' and community
concerns. See the SMH article http://www.smh.com.au/text/articles/2005/01/16/1105810774221.html
ASHFIELD COUNCIL DONATES $500 to RAPS
We are extremely grateful to Ashfield Council for agreeing to donate $500 to RAPS to help with our running costs. These include the cost of running our website and public liability insurance. Donations such as this enable us to keep our campaign going and to support and advise other groups fighting campaigns against Sydney's unfiltered toxic long road tunnels.
LANE COVE COUNCIL REQUESTS MEETING WITH HON. MICHAEL COSTA
Lane Cove Council is writing to the new Minister for Roads, Michael Costa requesting an urgent meeting with the Federal Government and with council and urging him to accept the Federal Government's offer of $1m to help filter the Lane Cove Tunnel. See the council's media release on our website. http://www.savewollicreek.8m.com/
FREE STICKERS
Lane Cove Tunnel Action Group, Inc, has printed promotional stamps with the warning "Unfiltered Tunnels Poison People". The aim is to alert people to the serious threat of pollution from all long road tunnels, not just Lane Cove's stacks. Tunnel pollution harms motorists as well as people who live and work around the stacks - pollution which is far more toxic than cigarette smoke in clubs and hotels, which kills about 70 people each year. The threat is as real as asbestosis.
The sticker is a way in which everyone can help. It's a low-key but insistent message to keep pressure on the RTA and the decision-makers to filter our tunnels. These tiny, fluorescent-yellow, stickers can be used in many ways: on the front or back of personal or business mail, on bumper bars or dashboards, shop counters or cash registers, school bags, even shop windows. Display stickers wherever you can (they're free). Ring : 9427 0131
RAPS WEBSITE UPDATED
Visit our recently updated website for information on tunnels and filtration, electro-static precipitators, pollution and the impact of the M5 East stack. One of our members has put together an excellent, comprehensive paper on these issues. http://www.savewollicreek.8m.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 as professional advice and help needed at this crucial time.
Please help us to keep going by sending a donation to:
Residents Against Polluting Stacks Inc
PO Box 270 Earlwood NSW 2206 Australia
TEL 9558 8863, 9573 0052, 9559 1278
fax: (02) 9558 8300 or international +61 2 9558 8300
RAPS Inc is an incorporated community group representing residents and workers
affected by the M5 East Stack and portals. We meet every second Tuesday night
at Earlwood Bowling Club, Doris Ave Earlwood NSW. Please email us if you are
thinking of attending to confirm that the meeting is on. email: raps@cominc.com.au
web: http://nostack.8m.com/
RAPS Inc is a member of GASP, Groups Against Stack Pollution, a coalition of
groups with similar aims and objectives affected by similar stacks from around
Sydney's planned Cross City and Lane Cove tunnels.
Our email list is maintained in confidence at the sending address only. To subscribe
to this email list send an email to raps@cominc.com.au with "ADD TO MAILING
LIST" in the subject line. To unsubscribe, send an email with DELETE FROM
MAILING