Reject the M4 East tunnel options

When the city west link was proposed the RTA and major party politicians promised this motorway would relieve traffic congestion.  In 2005 the M4 East extension was proposed on the grounds that it is needed to ease the traffic congestion in part caused by city west link.  This is further proof that new motorways do not help Sydney’s traffic problems.

The RTA put forward three options for consideration, with the two favoured options involving tunnels.  The proposal was put forward on the basis that it would improve traffic flows, alleviate pressure on Parramatta road, and would be a ‘free road’, paid for out of tolls.  The proposed Port Botany expansion could be used as an excuse push through a tunnel under Marrickville.

All three options put forward for the Eastern extension of the M4 Motorway pose risks to the health and wellbeing of surrounding communities in the Sydney municipalities of Leichhardt, Canada Bay, and Ashfield.  No one should have to live with exhaust stacks in their neighbourhoods as they pose unacceptable risks to the health of the community, most significantly to the health of children and the elderly.

Local residents do not want the significant increase in traffic volume which private tollways and motorways have brought to other parts of Sydney at the expense of good public transport.  These proposals will result in traffic chaos on the feeder streets, at the portals and on Anzac Bridge. Travelling in these polluted tunnels poses an unacceptable risk to drivers' health.

Go the RTA's M4 East site for more background.

• The tunnel would need two portals in the inner west, which would increase traffic congestion in these areas and require significant alterations to the streetscape of local communities including the loss of heritage buildings.
• Two stacks would be located near the portals and it is unclear whether the government will ensure that these emissions will be filtered
• After The Greens called for the release of government documents, it became clear that the project was never economically feasible, and the RTA had fudged the economic viability study of the M5 East. 
• In their cost benefit analysis the RTA included the estimated $295 million profit for the operator as though it was a benefit for the community.  Private profit cannot be used as a measure of public benefit.
• A secret deal had been made to lock commuters into paying a large toll for the next 35 years.  The M4 East toll was never going to cover the cost of building the tunnel, and the government had planned to continue the M4 toll past 2010 (when public use was due to become free) in order to fill the hole in the budget.  In total, commuters travelling from Parramatta to the city would have to pay $5 each way.

After The Greens exposed the Government’s planning debacle by releasing secret documents, former Premier Iemma was pressured into cancelling plans for a new toll on the M4 and the M4 East project was put on hold.

However in March 2007 secret documents revealed the M4 East plan was being resurrected in the form of a massive tunnel system.  The Inner-West Motorway would connect the airport and Port Botany with the M5, Parramatta Road, the M4 and Victoria Road.  The project is estimated at $4.8 billion, which is 7 times the cost of the struggling Cross City Tunnel.  

Former transport Minister Roozendaal said that the documents were merely a “bureaucratic discussion paper” but the secrecy surrounding the plan shows the government’s continued disregard for public consultation in infrastructure planning.  Roozendaal was not straight with the public in the lead up to the March 24 election, at first stating that the M4 East is still part of the government’s strategy instead of the Inner West Motorway, but later contradicting himself by saying the government had no plans for the M4 East.  The Greens called on the Government to announce its transport plans before the election.

The Greens believe the Government cannot be trusted to act ethically, in the public’s interests when it comes to Sydney’s transport.  Lee Rhiannon has strongly supported the local campaign to reject all three options for the Eastern extension of the M4 Motorway, and instead calls on the Government to prioritise the expansion of a sustainable, integrated public transport system across Sydney, in particular the extension of light rail through the inner west.

Labor's 2007 Election campaign exposed inconsistencies: 

After a Greens 'call for papers' unveiled months of emails showing the RTA discussing an inner west motorway, former Roads Minister Eric Roozendaal made contradictory remarks during the election campaign on whether the government is planning to extend the M4 or not, creating a credibility problem for Labor in the lead up to the March election. 

Former Transport Minister Roozendaal started by saying the M4 East motorway is still part of the government's plans but there'd be no inner west motorway. He later said the government had no plans for the M4 East.  On 1 March 2007 at 12.01am AAP reported the Minister saying, "The M4 East extension remains in the state plan". At 10.15am the Sydney Morning Herald reported him as saying "there are no proposal before the NSW government to build the M4 East."

The Minister's claims that traffic in the Inner West had not increased in the last decade showed how out of touch he really is.

The Greens then called on Minister Roozendaal to unambiguously rule out an extension to the M4 and an underground inner west motorway, arguing if the Minister wouldn't, he should tell residents exactly what his government's plans are and where the motorway will go.

The NSW public knows secrecy is this government's forte. This government will say anything to hide real plans.  Marrickville already faces the Port Botany expansion which could be used as a justification for forcing a tunnel through Marrickville.

Marrickville Tunnel Action Group (MTAG):

A community group formed to oppose the State Government's continuing obsession with motorway tunnels. MTAG meets on the second Thursday of every month, 7pm-8:30pm in the Herb Greedy Hall, Marrickville .