Horror smog hits Sydney

Monday, 02 March 1998 10:00

The pollution graphically shows the challenge for the Carr Government's forthcoming air quality plan.

"Ther aren't any bushfires - the pollution is the result of negligent policies by governments over the last decade and their encouragement of more and more cars onto the roads," said Jeff Angel, Director of the Centre.

"The Carr Government's Air Quality Management Plan is Sydney's last chance to prevent an awful air quality future. Their Plan must not only have tough targets but also be backed up by funding for new transport projects. The Minister for Transport must fix up the RTA and Department of Transport who at present are incapable of implementing a plan that will give Sydneysiders clean air."

"We need a fresh look at transport infrastructure, not the recycling of schemes like the Western Sydney Orbital, which is a sure recipe for urban sprawl and increased car dependency."

"Also the recent announcement by Transport Minister, Carl Scully of a 'top level transport committee' comprised of top bureaucrats will not work. It is a minimalist response that can't match the scale of the problem. There needs to be wholehearted community involvement and all this secret committee, comprised of those who have failed in the past, will do, is breed more scepticism," Mr Angel said.