Fears that trucks are driving on local roads to avoid M5 tunnel

Fewer trucks are polluting the M5 tunnel but the opposition claims it’s come at a cost.

While hefty new fines are keeping the tunnel cleaner, there are fears the sickening fumes have been shifted above ground.

Last year 7News revealed dangerous pollution levels inside the M5.

The state government cracked down on smoky trucks offering to pay half the cost of improving rigs.

But truckies were slow to respond.

Roads Minister Duncan Gay: "We've only done one and had nine inquiries."

Since March, 32 trucks have been fined $2000 for tunnel pollution.

While haze has dropped twenty per cent.

The opposition fears trucks are instead using Stoney Creek Road at Beverley Hills.

Running parallel with the M5, it's a popular option to dodge pollution detectors.

Shadow Road Minister Ryan Park: "that doesn't solve the problem all it does is shift the problem."

However Mr Gay disagrees: "Monitoring on Stoney Creek Road and other roads indicates there's no increase in smoky vehicles"

Last year the government promised to switch off the tunnel's filtration plant by January because it wasn't working. Today, it remains on and the Roads Minister says there's still a chance it might not be turned off at all.

According to Mr Park: "We don't know what's happening with the air filtration scheme and it's now time that local residents are given an accurate answer."

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