Letter to the Editor, copied to all NSW and Federal politicians

9th November 2000

Big business calls for Western Smog Tollway (Sydney West Orbital) - how surprising!

The page one headline of the Los Angeles Times reads "L.A. Suffers Worst Smog Crisis; Another Alert Today Predicted". And this "The City Hall's emergency clinic treated five persons for severe eye irritation. Trucking Associations complied with an APCD [Air Pollution Control District] request to curtail activities as much as possible." The date is 14th September1955.

Which brings me to the recent report of yet another call for the nice sounding "Sydney West Orbital". This is in fact a Western Smog Tollway. Western Sydney people heroically opposed the Badgery's airport in part because of air pollution threats to the Sydney Basin airshed. NSW health statistics prove bad air pollution already causes an increase in mortality of 500 people a year.

A large proportion of those deaths would be kids, the frail, and aged in Sydney's West. Big business used their political connections both ALP and Liberal to clear the bush in North Sydney for the M2 tollway. They took over Moore Park for the Eastern Distributor tollway. Wolli Creek will cop the effects of the M5 East tollway. Will the West win cleaner air after Badgery's but lose on the Western Smog Tollway?

This obsession with road building has caused more than creeping mortality from air pollution. Instead of coordinating rail departments for the safety and benefit of your average commuter the "transport minister" spent his time, skills and energy on road deals and press conferences. May the Glenbrook [Rail crash] victims RIP.

Tom McLoughlin, policy officer

FRIENDS OF THE EARTH, SYDNEY