MAD AS message to Watkins

A group of around 50 school children and their parents protested outside Deputy Premier John Watkins’ Ryde office today. Organised by Mums and Dads Against Stacks (MAD AS), the children represented the 58 schools that are in the pollution zone two kilometres from the stacks of the Lane Cove Tunnel, which will open on Sunday.

Children from schools in Lane Cove West, Artarmon, Chatswood, Ryde, Willoughby, and Riverview chanted, laid flowers, lit candles and put up drawings and posters demanding filtration. At one point heads were bowed in a one-minute silence to think about the future impact the lack of filtration will have on affected children.

Mr Watkins has refused to meet with MAD AS to discuss the need for in-tunnel filtration. Elizabeth Court, MAD AS organizer, said that there has been no response from the State Government on this issue. She said that Mr Watkins in particular has been ignoring community concerns. “John Watkins doesn’t think it’s an issue… We thought as a representative of Ryde he’d want to speak with us.”

Mrs Court said that today's rally was primarily focused on the children, who are deemed 'at risk' from pollutants as they are still developing. Various studies have found that children, people with asthma, and the elderly to be most susceptible to health problems related to pollutants. She said that pollutants in Sydney are already exceeding recommended levels.

“We will speak on their (children’s) behalf." She said. "We’re asking the government today to filter the Lane Cove Tunnel. It’s not too late. The technology is there and it’s used overseas in many countries. The money is there, this is a billion dollar project. But the political will is not there… We need the political will to change.”

School child Sam Finch voiced his concerns about filtration; “We can get sick”.

Sam Finch, right, with Max.

“Today we’re teaching Mr Watkins that this is a very important issue and our kids breathe the same air that we do… Many of our kids are very upset, they can’t sleep, they’re having troubles really coming to terms with what’s going to happen to them in two days time when the tunnel opens.” Mrs Court said.

MAD AS plans further protests over the weekend.

By Kate Schneider
22-03-2007