M5 East Tunnel filtration plant

On 18 July 2007 the Minister for Planning granted approval for the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) to construct and operate a filtration plant to treat the air from the M5 East westbound tunnel.

This $65 million project is funded by the NSW Government, as part of an air quality improvement plan for the M5 East.

The air filtration building is located on the eastern side of Bexley Road at Wolli Avenue, Earlwood (the former M5 East Motorway construction compound).
Construction of the air filtration building commenced in June 2008.Construction and installation of the filtration plant and associated works are expected to be completed by December, 2009.

What’s happening now?

• Continued civil and building works.
• Continued excavation.
• Tunnelling works.

Tunnelling work is currently being undertaken below the ground surface, within the partially constructed air filtration building, using a road header.  24 hour tunnelling work is scheduled to commence the week beginning Monday, 30 March 2009.

Construction of the air filtration building, March 2009

Community information session

A community information session was held on Saturday, 20 September, 2008 with approximately 100 interested local residents attending.  Community members discussed and examined landscaping and design proposals for the filtration plant with members of the project team.

Additional information was provided on the M5 East tunnel air quality improvement plan and the interactive air quality map on the RTA’s website.

Click here to view real time information on air quality around the Turrella air stack.

Please contact the project team at m5eastfiltration_community@baulderstone.com.au or phone 1800 667 199 for further information.

Background

In 2004 the RTA initiated a procurement process for selecting an organisation to design, manufacture, install and commission a pilot filtration plant in an appropriate road tunnel in Sydney. Registrations of interest were received from 13 companies and a shortlist of three proponents was requested to submit preliminary proposals.

New independent advice received by the RTA in June 2006 has shown filtration trials in Norway and Japan several years ago were successful. A copy of the 2004 and 2006 independent advice is below.

The assessment of the preliminary proposals and the independent advice assisted in determining the scope of the current filtration projects.

The construction and operation of the filtration plant on the M5 Motorway requires approval from the Department of Planning and in this respect, a modifications report was submitted to the department for their consideration.

A 12 page community summary, Modifications to the M5 East Motorway – Air quality improvement plan has been prepared. The updated document can be viewed from the link at the bottom of this page, or a colour document can be received from the RTA by phoning 9218 3665.

The M5 filtration plant will operate for an initial period of up to 18 months to determine the effectiveness of the filtration equipment and the reduction in haze in the tunnel by operating the equipment. A monitoring program will be devised in consultation with the Department of Planning, the Department of Environment and Climate Change and NSW Health. After the initial period the RTA will notify the Department of Planning whether the operation of the filtration technology should cease or continue as a permanent facility.

Why was a modification to the approved M5 project needed?

• The ventilation stack on the M5 Motorway is operating at its design capacity.
• Portal emissions and tunnel closures are currently used during incidents in the tunnel to maintain carbon monoxide levels within the goals.
• Air flows in sections of the tunnel are at design capacity (i.e. air is moving at the maximum velocity).
• Haze is visible in various sections of the tunnel during different times of day.
• Drivers have expressed concern about haze levels in the tunnel.
• The Roads Minister Eric Roozendaal requested the RTA  review the causes of haze in the M5 East tunnel and advise on technology and methods to improve air quality.
• The result is the RTA’s air quality improvement plan, announced by the Minister for Roads on 16 June 2006 (see air quality improvement plan fact sheet below). Some aspects of the plan such as video identification of pollution-causing heavy vehicles and additional jet fans were consistent with the existing project and were immediately installed (not included in the October 2006 Modifications Report).

Community involvement

The RTA is committed to improved communication with the community. There are a number of ways that the RTA will keep the community up to date with the project:

• Regular community information sessions will be held so that residents and the community can discuss project details directly with the project team.
• Fact sheets have been prepared and distributed to residents, schools, transport operators and other groups. They are available to view and download from the documents box at the bottom of this page.
• The RTA will continue to meet with councils, resident groups and State Government agencies.
• Information will be progressively updated on the RTA website.

Click on the links below to see the before and after images showing traffic arrangements over Iron Cove Bridge and at key intersections.

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