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The   Government,   Main   Roads   WA   and   Melville   Council   all   claim   that  building   Roe   8  will   be   safer   for   our   community.   However,   increasing   the  amount   of   trucks   on   our   roads   in   our   region   will   naturally   increase   the  amount   of   accidents   people   experience.   Apart   from  more   accidents   there  are  other  key  environmental  and  health  concerns,  which  will  be  increased  if  Roe  8/Perth  Freight  Link  is  built.      NOISE  STRESS      An  increased  level  of  noise  is  also  a   major   health   concern.   Some  sections   of   the   freight   freeway  will   be   raised   well   above   the  surrounding   suburban   houses  and  businesses,   amplifying  noise  from   vehicles   travelling   at   an  increased   speed   to   the   current  roads.      Health   reports   show   that   high  ambient   noise   causes   stress   to  adults   and   children   and   has   been   linked   to   high   blood   pressure,   loss   of  sleep  and  poor   school  performance.    The  6   to  9  metre  high   sound  barrier  walls  that  will  be  placed  just  metres  from  some  homes  are  visual  intrusions  but   the   concern   is   that   these  will   only   dampen   not   adequately   deal   with  noise  issues.      AIR  QUALITY      One  of  the  justifications  for  the  Perth  Freight  Link  is  a  projected  doubling  of  heavy   vehicle   traffic   over   the   next   15   years.   Truck   numbers   at   Stirling  Bridge  are  expected  to  increase  from  less  than  3000  per  day  to  13,000  per  day  if  Roe  8/PFL  is  built.  

 

POTENTIAL  HEALTH  IMPACTS  OF  THE  PERTH  FREIGHT  LINK  

 

Rethink  Perth  Freight  Link  is  a  growing  alliance  of  31  organisations  and  local  Councils  in  opposition  to  the  Perth  Freight  Link  

www.rethinkthelink.com.au  |  facebook/rethinkthelink  

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ALTERNATIVE  SOLUTION  TO  THE  PFL      Building  the  Outer  Harbour  has  had  bipartisan  support  for  many  years  as  the   Fremantle   Port   has   been   reaching   its   capacity.   The   Perth   Freight  Network  Review  in  2002  took  2  years  of  consulting  with  150  stakeholder  groups   including   industry,   councils,  planning  authorities  and  community  groups  to  develop  an  agreed  strategy  for  freight.      The  alternative  freight  plan  includes:  

• better  freight  logistics  management;  • improvements  to  existing  roads;  • capping   growth   at   the   Fremantle   port   and   transitioning   to   the  

Outer  Harbour  in  Kwinana;  • moving   more   freight   onto   rail   and   using   the   intermodal   hub   at  

Latitude  32  in  Kwinana;  and  • using   the   Tonkin   Hwy   access   from   Kewdale   to   Kwinana,   away  

from  urban  populations.      Councils  such  as  Fremantle,  East  Fremantle,  Mosman  Park,  Cockburn  and  Kwinana   oppose   the   building   of   Roe   8   and   the   PFL   and   support   the  sustainable  alternative  freight  solution.      Rethink  Perth  Freight  Link  urge  the  government  to  stop  all  works  on  the  PFL  including  Roe  8  until  an  analysis  of  all  alternatives  including  the  Outer  Harbour  are  considered  and  a   full  public   consultation  has  occurred  with  open  and  transparent  processes  taking  place.    Please  take  action  by  writing  to  the  Premier  and  call  for  this  too.  

 

A  parent’s  response  to  MRWA’s  PR  campaign  

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While   many   countries   have   set   air  quality  standards  with  maximum  levels  of   PM2.5,   health   experts   have  recognised   that   there   probably   is   no  safe   level   of   Particulate   Matter.   The  WHO   declaration   has   been   taken   very  seriously  by  cities  such  as  Paris,  where  diesel  vehicles  will  be  banned  by  2020.  London  is  planning  to  follow  suit.        Whether   the   Roe   8/PFL   is   sited   down  Stock   Road   and   Palmyra   or   goes  through  Hamilton  Hill   and  White  Gum  Valley,  with  the  help  of  the  Freo  Doctor  we   know   that   all   residents   will   have  increased  diesel  particulate  exposure  if  we  allow   the   freight   link   to  be  built   in  our  urban  communities.      

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THE  DANGER  OF  DIESEL        The   World   Health   Organisation   (2012)   has   declared   that   diesel   engine  exhaust  is  a  class  1.  carcinogen,  the  same  class  as  asbestos.  Diesel  engines  are   dangerous   because   they   produce   small   particles   called   Particulate  Matter,   consisting   of   carbon   bound   to   other   pollutants.   Very   small  particles  with   a   diameter   of   less   than   2.5  microns,   known   as   PM2.5   can  enter  the  airways  through  our  lungs.  This  causes  diseases  such  as  asthma  and   chronic   obstructive   airways   disease,   and   increases   the   risk   of   heart  disease,  stroke  and  lung  cancer.  

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VALUE  OF  NATURAL  SPACES  TO  COMMUNITY  HEALTH      There  is  a  wealth  of  scientific  evidence  to  show  that  the  vicinity  of  natural  areas  and  green  spaces  provide  significant  positive  health  benefits  such  as:  ·          improved  mental  health  and  wellbeing;  ·          increased  likelihood  of  physical  activity;  ·          positive  effects  on  children  with  reductions  of  ADHD  symptoms;  ·          reduced  violence  and  aggression;  ·          reduction  in  anti-­‐social  behaviour  and  incidence  of  crime;  and  ·          an  improvement  in  air  and  noise  quality.      We   know   mental   health   issues   and  particularly  suicide  rates  are  greater  now  than  ever  before.      Studies  have  shown  that  even  if  a  person  does   not   visit   a   park   but   lives   within   a  short   distance   they   can   have   improved  mental  health  outcomes.      VALUE  OF  CONNECTED  COMMUNITIES      The  Perth  Freight  Link  will  reduce  the  connectivity  between  homes,  schools  and  recreation  areas,  which  will  lead  to  a  reduction  in  the  use  of  cycling  and  walking  for  transport.      WA   reports   show   less   than   60%   of   adults   and   50%   of   children   have  sufficient   physical   activity,   the   lack   of   which   is   linked   to   cardiovascular  disease,  diabetes  and  obesity.        The   full   business   case   details,   traffic  modelling   and   final   routes   have   not  been  released  for  public  scrutiny.  We  believe  that  factors  such  as  the  loss  of  unique   recreational   spaces   and   natural   bushland   have   not   been   fully  considered  in  assessing  the  real  cost  to  the  community  of  the  Roe  8/PFL.      Our   amenity,   noise   pollution,   increase   in   accidents   and   the   loss   of  connectivity  within   our   communities  must   all   be   considered  when   a   cost  benefit  ratio  is  developed  for  projects  such  as  this.