Inner West Air Quality Community Reference Group

On 26 July 2018, the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change and Minister for Roads and Road Safety announced the establishment of the Inner West Air Quality Community Reference Group. This group will give community members the opportunity to provide community insight and input to future improvements for air quality in the inner west.

The reference group, with representatives from the community, local councils and community groups, will provide an opportunity for community members to better understand their local air quality, sources of pollution and propose areas of focus and solutions for Government consideration.

For over a year, the Community Reference Group has met regularly to investigate the current air quality issues and concerns across the Brimbank, Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong local government areas, including transport initiatives such as the West Gate Tunnel Project.

Report: Air Pollution in Melbourne’s Inner West: taking direct action to reduce our community’s exposure

In line with its terms of reference, the Community Reference Group has developed a public report containing a range of findings and recommendations for government consideration on actions to address air quality issues in the inner west.

The Report covers:

the impacts air pollution has on inner west communities’ health and amenity
the importance of comprehensive air pollution monitoring and reporting of monitoring results
the impacts of air pollution from key sources – including transport and industrial sites
opportunities to strengthen Victoria’s planning framework to better protect the community from air pollution.

The Report was submitted to the Victorian Government on 31 March 2020.

Membership

The members of the Inner West Air Quality Community Reference Group were:

Name	Role
Patsy Toop OAM	Chairperson
Adam Fletcher	Community member representative
Alexandra Damasoliotis	Community member representative
Bert Boere	Community member representative
Chris Dunlevy	Don't Destroy Millers Roads representative
Christine Harris	Spotswood & South Kingsville Residents Group representative
Clare Sheppard	Community member representative
Geoffrey Mitchelmore OAM	Community member representative
Ian Butterworth	Hobsons Bay City Council representative
Keith Loveridge	Maribyrnong City Council representative
Kristen Gilbert	Brimbank City Council representative
Louise Keramaris	Community member representative
Narelle Wilson	Maribyrnong Truck Action Group
Valerie Dripps	Community member representative

Terms of Reference

The Terms of Reference for the Inner West Air Quality Community Reference Group were finalised by the membership at their first meeting on 10 December 2018.

You can view the Terms of Reference and members' Code of Conduct below.

Terms of Reference - Inner West Air Quality Community Reference Group (PDF, 38.7 KB)

Terms of Reference - Inner West Air Quality Community Reference Group - Accessible (DOCX, 106.7 KB)

Meetings

Meeting 1: 10 December 2018

This meeting focused on clarifying of the purpose and scope of the group, identifying members' key issues of concern in relation to air quality, and finalising the Terms of Reference.

Minutes - Meeting 1 (PDF, 581.8 KB)

Minutes - Meeting 1 - Word Document (DOCX, 59.0 KB)

Meeting 2: 25 February 2019

This meeting focused on providing members with a shared baseline understanding of air quality impacts and information. Dr Andrea Hinwood, EPA's Chief Environmental Scientist, gave a presentation to that effect. The second half of the meeting was used to plan the forward agenda for Inner West Air Quality Community Reference Group for the remainder of its term.

Minutes - Meeting 2 (PDF, 166.3 KB)

Minutes - Meeting 2 - Word Document (DOCX, 59.1 KB)

Meeting 3: 18 March 2019

This meeting focused on diesel emissions. Clare Walter, PhD student and honorary research fellow with the Lung Health Research Centre, presented on the health impacts of diesel particulates. Greg Cain, from the Victorian Transport Association (VTA), gave a presentation on VTA initiatives in the inner west, and Malcolm Brown, from Volvo, presented technical information on diesel truck engines.

Minutes - Meeting 3 (PDF, 169.1 KB)

Minutes - Meeting 3 - Word Document (DOCX, 60.6 KB)

Meeting 4: 29 April 2019

This meeting focused on the regulation of industry in the inner west of Melbourne. Presentations were given by the Environment Protection Authority CEO, Dr Cathy Wilkinson, Executive Director, Tim Eaton, and Regional Manager, Daniel Hunt.

Minutes - Meeting 4 (PDF, 184.9 KB)

Minutes - Meeting 4 - Word Document (DOCX, 58.9 KB)

Meeting 5: 13 May 2019

This meeting focused on the Air Quality Strategy currently being developed by DELWP, with guest speakers Kyle Garland and Katherine Evans. The meeting also had considerable discussion of the methodology for writing the final report.

Minutes - Meeting 5 (PDF, 188.0 KB)

Minutes - Meeting 5 - Word Document (DOCX, 59.1 KB)

Meeting 6: 3 June 2019

This meeting focused on planning the final report of the CRG. The group looked at a draft table of contents, timelines, and an approval process for drafted chapters.

Minutes - Meeting 6 (PDF, 172.8 KB)

Minutes - Meeting 6 - Word Document (DOCX, 56.6 KB)

Meeting 7: 24 June 2019

This meeting focused on the West Gate Tunnel Project. A panel with a variety of experts joined the group to answer questions relating to tunnel filtration. The panel included:

Dr Lyn Denison (Principal Consultant, ERM)
Dr Bruce Dawson (Principal Environmental Consultant, Golders Associates)
A/Prof Louis Irving (Respiratory Physician, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre)
Dr Paul Torre (Senior Applied Scientist, EPA)
Tim Faragher (Director, EPA)

Minutes - Meeting 7 (PDF, 177.2 KB)

Minutes - Meeting 7 - Word Document (DOCX, 58.2 KB)

Meeting 8: 15 July 2019

This meeting focused on dust in the inner west. A panel with a variety of experts joined the group to answer questions relating to sources of, and mitigation methods for, dust emissions. The panel included:

Michael Beale (Occupational Hygienist, envirosapHe)
Dr Paul Torre (Senior Applied Scientist, EPA)
Jeremy Settle (Regional Manager Metropolitan Area, EPA)

Minutes - Meeting 8 (PDF, 189.4 KB)

Minutes - Meeting 8 - Word Document (DOCX, 59.7 KB)

Meeting 9: 5 August 2019

This meeting focused on development of the group's report to government. Members also identified further experts they would like to inform their work.

Minutes - Meeting 9 (PDF, 664.1 KB)

Minutes - Meeting 9 - Word Document (DOCX, 62.8 KB)

Meeting 10: 26 August 2019

This meeting focused on industry in the inner west as a source of air pollution. Members also development of the CRG's report to the Victorian Government and planning how to communicate their findings.

Minutes - Meeting 10 (PDF, 750.0 KB)

Minutes - Meeting 10 (accessible) (DOCX, 16.4 KB)

Meeting 11: 16 September 2019

This meeting focused on the planning system and development of the CRG's report.

Minutes - Meeting 11 (PDF, 651.2 KB)

Minutes - Meeting 11 (accessible) (DOCX, 56.7 KB)

Meeting 12: 7 October 2019

This meeting focused on development of the CRG's report.

Minutes - Meeting 12 (PDF, 796.6 KB)

Minutes - Meeting 12 (accessible) (DOCX, 57.1 KB)

Meeting 13: 28 October 2019

This meeting focused on development of the CRG's report.