Petition Air quality at Southern Cross Station

Issue:

This petition is intended to bring to the attention of the Victorian Legislative Assembly the serious concerns of the signatories about the extremely poor air quality in Southern Cross train and bus stations, and the threat this poses to the health of workers in the station, commuters, and local residents. Air quality monitoring data recently obtained by ABC News show that nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels in parts of SCS have regularly been more than 90 times the guidelines set by the World Health Organization (WHO). A leading Victorian respiratory doctor commented: ‘From the measurements I have seen in this report, I would be concerned that this is one of the least clean air areas in Melbourne.’ Alarmingly, the Safe Work Australia standards applied to NO2 levels at the station, have not changed in over three decades and are far higher than WHO recommendations. There are currently no Safe Work standards specifically for diesel engine emissions. The extractor fans, promised and budgeted for in 2011, have still not been installed. This despite trains left idling for up to several hours, and unacceptably high fine particulate matter (PM2.5) being measured in nearby apartments.

Action:

The Petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Assembly of Victoria call on the Government to: 
1. Prohibit idling of diesel trains and buses at Southern Cross Station (SCS) for any longer than five minutes.
2. Install external electrical power connections for diesel trains, to be plugged in upon arrival, in order to prevent idling.
3. Install extractor fans to remove harmful diesel fumes.
4. More effectively monitor air quality by measuring PM2.5 and elemental carbon (EC) levels hourly and publish the results monthly on the SCS website.
5. Include a representative of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria in the SCS Air Quality Working Group. This Group be required to work to reduce harmful diesel emissions.
6. Revise Workplace Exposure Standards for all thresholds so that they are consistent with the WHO guidelines.