Thursday, 1 August 2024

North East Link

Matthew GUY (Bulleen) (17:18): (753) Tonight I raise an issue for the Minister for Transport Infrastructure relating to the North East Link Program. Over a number of months now I have been in contact with residents, particularly residents abutting the Eastern Freeway, in Doncaster South on issues around noise pollution and traffic noise and the policies of the North East Link in relation to both of those. A number of residents have researched much material on other projects around Australia, and some of those materials they have presented to the North East Link seeking clarification, particularly in relation to air pollution, on some of the guidelines they are outlining for that project – where it will go and the impact upon local schools, communities and sporting facilities, not the least of course people who will be living near the project when it is completed. The North East Link is, let us just say to be polite, highly unresponsive, despite claims otherwise, to residents in my area. When I say the North East Link, I mean the state government, because they are one and the same quite obviously. This is much to the annoyance of residents, who are simply seeking answers on a number of key points.

In relation to air pollution, I am advised by residents that the North East Link Program environment effects statement predicts PM 2.5 will increase 136 per cent on the Eastern Freeway. Nitrogen dioxide will increase by 85 per cent on the Eastern Freeway. The EES shows daily PM 2.5 limits will be breached on many occasions, when none are permitted for the NELP project. Traffic noise – the NELP’s 58 decibels for night is well above the World Health Organization 2009 scoping requirements of 40 decibels at the first floor. The New South Wales policy, which the then planning minister Richard Wynne said he had regard for in his NELP proposal, was 55 decibels at the first floor. What I ask the transport infrastructure minister tonight, the action I seek from him, is to advise me and the residents that abut the North East Link what the intervention action is that will protect children and adults playing sport at Marcellin, Belle Vue Primary, Carey, Trinity, Bulleen oval, the Veneto and Freeway Golf on high pollution days, and further, why is the North East Link Program ignoring New South Wales policy and World Health Organization 2009 policy and being allowed to knowingly cause harm to human health as defined by the World Health Organization for night traffic noise pollution?