Mayor addresses rally to call for West Gate Tunnel filters

Published on 03 March 2025

Mayor Daria Kellander has spoken at a ‘clean our air’ rally as Hobsons Bay City Council continues to advocate for the health of community members.

Cr Kellander was one of several community leaders who spoke at the event hosted by Maribyrnong Truck Action Group (MTAG) at Yarraville Gardens on Sunday.

Air quality in Melbourne’s west was brought to the forefront at the rally, with a strong number of community members attending to raise their concerns.

Speakers included Maribyrnong City Council Mayor Pradeep Tiwari, state MP David Ettershank, Doctors for the Environment Associate Professor Vicki Kotsirilos AM and MTAG president Martin Wurt.

“It is up to us to make our voices heard and say that what’s going on won’t be accepted. It’s up to us to say that the health of our community shouldn’t be adversely affected just because of our postcode,” Cr Kellander told the rally.

“It’s frustrating to see community members need to hold signs like ‘filter the stacks’ and ‘clean our air’, rights that should be intrinsic for every single member of our community, not something that needs to be fought for.

“We will continue to fight to ensure our community’s health is not overlooked just to save some money.”

Air quality has been an issue of concern for many years in Hobsons Bay, and Council is advocating to the state government to install filters on West Gate Tunnel ventilation stacks.

The southern ventilation stack neighbours Hobsons Bay communities including Spotswood, South Kingsville, Brooklyn and Altona North.

The rally signified wider community sentiment against the lack of filtration and highlights genuine concerns about the health of the community in surrounding neighbourhoods.

As well as Cr Kellander speaking at Sunday’s rally, the issue was once again raised as a motion at last week’s Council meeting.

Council has written to state transport infrastructure minister Gabrielle Williams calling for action to protect the health of Hobsons Bay residents.

Photo: Mayor Daria Kellander speaking at the rally. Credit: Maribyrnong Truck Action Group.