By Vanessa Chircop
HOBSONS Bay City Council has advised the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) that it will work with VicRoads to undertake works in Francis St and Cemetery Rd, Brooklyn to reduce dust emissions in the area.
The council will conduct a trial sweeping of the shoulder and verge areas to reduce dust emissions in Francis St and will repair the road, fill in potholes and place a barrier on the side of Cemetery Rd to prevent trucks parking on the shoulder of the road.
Hobsons Bay Council has allocated $130,000 to rehabilitate the two roads.
Since 2009-2010 air pollution and dust levels in the Brooklyn area have reduced by 50 per cent but the level is still deemed four times more than the acceptable limit.
Councillor John Hogg said he hoped the works might improve the health and amenity of the residents by reducing dust in the area.
Mayor Tony Briffa said he also hoped the works would improve the air pollutions problems in Brooklyn.
“Hopefully it will make an impact – they (EPA) tell us it will,” he said.
“Hopefully that will mean the dust situation will reduce.
“My understanding is the amount of dust from Cemetery Rd being contributed to the overall problem is very minimal but the works being undertaken will assist the EPA in identifying where the dust is coming from so they can prosecute offending industries in the local area.”
The EPA has requested that the works are undertaken within the next six months.
