City of Maribyrnong council to address air quality

A council in Melbourne’s west has outlined plans to monitor and address air quality issues it warns have reached three times World Health Organisation guidelines.

A council in Melbourne’s west has outlined plans to monitor and address air quality issues it warns have reached three times World Health Organisation guidelines.

Maribyrnong City recently endorsed an air quality improvement plan which includes advocating to state and federal governments, identifying hot spots using monitoring systems and developing a community education plan.

The City will also develop an air quality map to identify areas of exposure and has identified short, medium and long term goals.

“Residents of the City of Maribyrnong are currently exposed to consistently poor air quality levels compared to other suburban areas of Melbourne,” the plan notes.

“The evidence is very clear and unequivocal, additional measures are required to improve the amenity of affected areas in Maribyrnong by implementing exposure reduction policies.”

EPA monitoring in Footscray in 2019 recorded an annual average of 6.67μg per cubic metre of PM2.5 particles, below the Australian limit of 8μg but above updated WHO guidelines of 5μg per cubic metre.

PM2.5 particles have a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers and may cause symptoms for people sensitive to air pollution.

EPA Victoria advises common sources of PM2.5 include smoke from fires, wood heaters, car and truck exhaust and industry.

Monitoring at the corner of Francis St and Williamstown Rd in Yarraville in 2020 recorded levels of PM2.5 that were three times higher than the WHO guidelines.

Mayor Anthony Tran said it was “not OK” residents were subjected to poorer air quality levels compared to other areas of Melbourne.

“Our community should reasonably expect the air they breathe will not adversely affect their wellbeing,” he said.

According to the IQAir World Air Quality Report 2021, Australia record the eighth lowest annual average for PM2.5 concentration behind counties and territories like New Caladonia, Finland and Puerto Rico.

For comparison, New Delhi recorded 85μg per cubic metre, Beijing averaged 34.4μg and Rome saw levels of 11.1μg.

The air quality plan notes increased traffic from the proposed Port of Melbourne expansion could reasonably be expected to increase air pollution in the coming decades.

The plan includes advocating for banning diesel trucks on residential roads and a federal ban on diesel and petrol vehicle sales by 2030.

According to Torrens University’s 2019 Social Health Atlas, Maribyrnong had the worst cardiorespiratory outcomes in Victoria, with higher rates of heart attacks, strokes and asthma when compared to state averages.

The report notes young Maribyrnong residents also have the highest hospital admissions for respiratory ailments in Victoria - 171 per cent above the Australian average.

Maribyrnong council has attributed the poor health outcomes to truck movements through the City, proximity to the Port of Melbourne and the West Gate Tunnel project.

Six temporary air quality sensors have already been installed within the City as part of the West Gate Tunnel project with council planning to install more soon.