Maribyrnong Council calls on Allan govt to filter emissions from the West Gate Tunnel’s new smoke stacks

The state government is facing mounting calls to filter ‘toxic’ fumes from the West Gate Tunnel project, amid fears the smoke could put residents in Melbourne’s inner west at risk.

Render of the exit to the West Gate Tunnel project with a ventilation stack

The state government is under growing pressure to add filtration systems to the West Gate Tunnel’s ventilation stacks that will spew out smoke to neighbouring communities.

The Maribyrnong City Council has added their voice to the growing community pressure to curb emissions from the thousands of heavy trucks that are expected to commute through the tunnel.

The council urged the state government to prioritise community health and immediately commit to installing effective filtration systems.

Maribyrnong City Council mayor Pradeep Tiwari says residents ‘deserve better’. Picture: Supplied

Mayor Pradeep Tiwari said he was concerned about the impact the unfiltered fumes could have on the local community.

“This is a matter of public health. Our community is already dealing with the impacts of traffic-related air pollution, and the proposed ventilation stacks will only make things worse if left unfiltered,” Mr Tiwari said.

“Residents in Maribyrnong and the inner west deserve better – we cannot accept infrastructure that puts their health at further risk.”

The council’s voice adds to community pressure after a “Clean Our Air” rally was held in March, which called on the government to filter the stacks to protect community health.

There are currently no confirmed plans for filtration infrastructure in the smoke stacks, despite the council having declared a health emergency in May 2023 due to dire air quality in the area.

Filters were not included in the original design for the tunnel, as the government accepted a recommendation that filtration would do little to improve local air quality – instead suggesting retrofitting if needed.

Speaking last year Maribyrnong Truck Action Group president Martin Wurt said that residents welcomed getting truck of local roads, but by not filtering the stacks the government was a lost opportunity.

“The Government promises to retrofit filtration in the future ‘if it’s needed’ but our community has some of the highest hospital admission rates for air pollution-related illnesses in Victoria. Filtration is needed now,” he said.

The Allan government says the filters are not necessary. Picture: Jason Edwards

Heavy vehicle pollution has long been an issue for Maribyrnong residents.

Stroke risk and asthma hospital admissions are approximately 40 per cent higher than the state average, while the region also has the highest rate of childhood asthma.

Other cardiovascular and respiratory disease have also been attributed to the city’s poor air quality.

The council plans to write to the Minister for Environment to request the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) set up a community consultation conference and to use available technology to reduce harmful emissions.

Opposition environment spokesman Brad Rowswell said the government's failure to add filtration systems to the West Gate Tunnel’s vents “will mean that locals living in Footscray, Seddon, Yarraville, South Kingsville, Altona North, Newport and Spotswood will continue to breathe toxic fumes for decades”.

“This simply isn’t good enough,” he said.

The government has insisted that their advice showed that filters were not necessary.

Their advice, from the EPA, found that the height of the stacks and engines that will propel the smoke into the air will do enough to disperse emissions safely.