Barry Watson
THE North East Link Project (NELP) is a massive and hugely expensive infrastructure project to improve road traffic to the north eastern areas of Melbourne. The major elements are 6.5k of road tunnels from Watsonia to Bulleen, and upgrades to the Eastern Freeway and the M60 Ring Road to be completed by 2028.
The 10-kilometre toll road was initially budgeted at $10 billion; by December 2023, it was estimated to have reached $26 billion. This figure includes only those costs that can be easily quantified in financial terms. By taking a narrow economic view of the project, the Government has failed to calculate the many other costs to which it is difficult to allocate a direct, accurate monetary value.
Air pollution is costly to our health
Air pollution from motor vehicle emissions is the major source of urban air pollution. These emissions include PM2.5 fine particle pollution (particulate matter at a size of 2.5 micrometres found in vehicle exhausts especially diesel trucks), nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone and benzenes.
These pollutants are harmful to human health and well being. Exposure to PM2.5 fine particle pollution can cause allergies, sinus congestion, acute asthma, heart attacks and sudden death, cancer, cardiovascular disease and lung disease. Approximately 11,000 Australians die each year from motor vehicles air pollution. The World Health Organisation has stated that the only safe level of PM2.5 is zero.
When the North East Link is completed in 2026, a further 100,000 vehicles per day will be added to the widened Eastern Freeway. Modelling in the NELP Environment Effects Statement (EES) shows that PM2.5 will increase by 136% and Nitrogen Dioxide will increase by 85% on the Eastern Freeway. The increase in heavy commercial vehicles here and on other roads in the area and the absence of filtering on the south tunnel portal vent stack contribute to these levels.
The Victorian Environment Protection Agency has stated that, despite the relevant Environmental Reference Standards having legal status and that the air quality limits apply to NELP, the EPA has no statutory powers to enforce compliance or capacity to intervene. If so, who does have responsibility for enforcing compliance and enabling stronger intervention action on the anticipated air pollution breaches?
A threat to the health and wellbeing of children and adults participating in sport or other outdoor activities.
Recent research has shown that relatively small increases in air pollution levels over a short time frame can lead to significant cognitive declines in children.
The NELP EES modelled air pollution location close to three college sporting fields, Veneto Soccer, Bulleen Sports Oval, Belle Vue Primary School and Freeway Golf Course. This showed that PM2.5 fine particle pollution generated by motor vehicles will breach the EES 24 hour limits near these schools and sporting precincts. These breaches are expected to occur frequently.
NELP has sought to deflect blame for high pollution levels away from motor vehicles by pointing to ‘existing high background levels’, due to bushfires, dust storms and gas heaters. In reality, the highest pollution occurs in the winter months when there are no bushfires and dust storms. Cold overnight temperatures can cause a temperature inversion that traps pollution that fails to disperse on low or no wind days.
Difficult Questions
In the light of this troubling data, we need to ask the Government some hard questions. What will the likely effect be on children at these schools and on those using these playing fields? Will it be safe to participate in outdoor activities in these areas? What assurance can the Government give the community that the health of school children will be protected? What protection actions are proposed on these dangerous to health high pollution days?
NELP Air Pollution, Who Owns the Problem?
The North East Link Project (NELP) is predicted in the EES to breach PM2.5 limits massively as shown in the EES Figure 10-8. Air pollution from motor vehicle emissions is the major source of urban air pollution. These emissions include PM2.5 fine particle pollution, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone and benzenes. These pollutants are harmful to human health and well being.
When the North East Link has been completed in 2026, 100,000 vehicles per day will be added to the widened Eastern Freeway. The NELP EES has modelled that PM2.5 will increase by 136% and Nitrogen Dioxide will increase by 85% on the Eastern Freeway.
The health effects from short term exposure to PM2.5 fine particle pollution include allergies, sinus congestion, acute asthma, heart attacks and sudden death, cancer, cardiovascular disease and lung disease.
More generally, other health consequences caused by or associated with exposure to PM2.5 fine particles include stroke, neurological disorders, cognitive and memory impairment, dementia, psychiatric disorders (depression, psychosis, anxiety, suicide), renal disease, diabetes, obesity, infertility, miscarriage, low birth weight and hypothyroidism (see: ‘The impact of air pollution on human health’, A/Prof Vicki Kotsirilos, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348619831_The_impact_of_air_pollution_on_human_health_C AProf_Vicki_Kotsirilos_AM_MBBS_FACNEM_FASLM_Hon_Fellow_RACGP).
Recent research has shown that relatively small increases in air pollution levels over a short time frame can lead to significant cognitive declines in children. (Ref: Sunyer, J., Suades-González, E., García-Esteban, R., Rivas, I., Pujol, J., Alvarez-Pedrerol, M., Basagaña, X. (2017). Traffic-related Air Pollution and Attention in Primary School Children: Short-term Association. Epidemiology (Cambridge, Mass.), 28(2).
A new UCLA study in zebrafish identified the process by which air pollution can damage brain cells, potentially contributing to Parkinson’s disease. Published in the peer-reviewed journal Toxicological Sciences, the findings show that chemicals in diesel exhaust can trigger the toxic buildup of a protein in the brain called alpha-synuclein, which is commonly seen in people with the disease. Previous studies have revealed that people living in areas with heightened levels of traffic-related air pollution tend to have higher rates of Parkinson’s. (Ref: University of California – Los Angeles Health Sciences. “Scientists find evidence of link between diesel exhaust, risk of Parkinson’s.” ScienceDaily, 21 May 2020. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/05/200521102104.htm).
Ultrafine particles PM1 (which are smaller than PM2.5) which are also emitted from vehicle emissions and especially from diesel fuelled vehicles, cause additional health problems. Health problems from other vehicle exhaust pollutants are:
• Carbone monoxide – heart disease, headaches, fatigue;
• Ozone – inflammation of breathing passages, lung damage;
• Sulfur dioxide – inflammation of breathing passages;
• Nitrogen dioxide – inflammation of breathing passages, lung damage;
• Particulate matter – inflammation of lungs, wheezing;
• Changes to lung tissues and structure; and • Altered respiratory defence mechanisms.
First published in EastsiderNews, No. 22, March 2024.