We need noise and pollution standards in Victoria

The 7:30 report ran a story on the Regional Rail Link (Friday June 24), focusing on issues of land acquisition, government transparency and the threats from noise and pollution. A story in The Age earlier in the week looked at similar issues.

The government is pressing ahead with the tender process for rail work packages but without waiting for the results of the noise assessment report recommended by the EPA. There's also no guarantee that they'll release the report publicly when it's finally ready. If the report recommends noise mitigation (currently no mitigation strategies are allowed for in the project), then they'll need to modify the current plans, or even scrap them and start over - hardly efficient. Unless, of course, they decide to ignore any such recommendations, because there is no legal requirement in Victoria to protect citizens from noise and pollution from trains.

We understand the government wants to get this project done quickly. Melbourne's public transport system is struggling. They appear to be willing to sacrifice the health, dignity & wellbeing of a few western-suburbs communities to achieve their aim. This project alone is not going to fix Melbourne's transport woes - will your suburb be next? Victoria needs standards for the control of noise and pollution for all major rail and road works. Tell your local government representative that this won't stand.