Just a day after a truck action group unveiled a commissioned report that found the West Gate Tunnel is set to cause high levels of ground contamination for residents in the city’s inner west, a Victorian minister has hit back at the findings.
Victorian ports and freight minister Melissa Horne put out a statement labelling the Maribyrnong Truck Action Group’s (MTAG) report as “disinformation” that hadn’t been provided to the government for review.
She says the report missed key facts such as that the independent Environmental Effect Statement and independent assessments found that the tunnel will improve air quality in Melbourne’s inner west.
“Advice from the Department of Health assessed the potential impacts on health from tunnel emissions to be below health-based guidelines and a low risk to human health,” Horne says.
“No tunnels in Australia include filtration systems. Expert assessments have found that filtration is not required for the West Gate Tunnel ventilation system.”
Horne says the tunnel will use powerful engines that force exhaust high into the air above the ventilation stacks to disperse the air safely, with the project undergoing a thorough and transparent planning and environmental approval process with extensive community engagement.
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Once operational, Horne says daily reporting of ambient air quality monitoring programs results will be made publicly available via a monthly report.
“No other government has invested more to improve air quality across Melbourne’s west,” Horne says.
“In 2018, we established the Inner West Air Quality Community Reference Group, assembling representatives from the community and local councils to investigate and better understand local air pollution issues, concerns, and sources in the Brimbank, Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong local government areas.
“Following recommendations made by the group, we’ve invested $5 million for councils to seal local roads in Brimbank, Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong, reducing dust pollution and improving air quality. A further $3 million for more road sealing was announced in August 2025, to continue this important initiative.
“Across Melbourne’s western suburbs, we have already planted 450,000 trees to create cooler neighbourhoods for residents – with another 50,000 set to planted in the coming months.”
Horne also pointed to other transport projects, such as Victoria’s Bus Plan trial of zero-emissions vehicles and the state’s Freight Plan, to provide examples of the state’s air quality focus.
“When it opens later this year, the West Gate Tunnel project will take 9,000 trucks a day off local roads and will introduce 24-hour no-truck zones on Blackshaws Road, Hudsons Road, Francis Street, Somerville Road, Buckley Street and Moore Street, vastly improving the liveability and air quality across Melbourne’s west,” Horne says.
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