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Objective

Recommendation

Key issues

Actions taken

Objective

To reduce the level of air pollution caused by emissions from motorised vehicles.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the State Government supports government actions in national forums, such as the National Road Transport Council, the National Environment Protection Council and the Australia and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council, which aim to improve the efficiency of motorised transport use and technology and the control of vehicle noise and atmospheric emissions.

Key issues

This information is available from Volume 2 of the last SoE Report (SDAC 1997), which can be downloaded. The final objective, final recommendation, and a summary of key management actions are detailed below.

Actions taken

There has been some progress made in addressing this recommendation on pollution from transport since the previous SoE Report (1997) including the following.

• Air quality monitoring, assessment and reporting for particulates, as required under the Ambient Air Quality National Environment Protection Measure, commenced for Hobart and continued, with upgraded monitoring facilities, in Launceston.
   
• The Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources is involved in a range of noise and atmosphere pollution actions being undertaken through the National Road Transport Council and National Environment Protection Council. These include:
   
• emissions improvements through the adoption of European Union Emission Standards (Euro 2 and Euro 3), and by the adoption of complementary noise emissions standards for heavy vehicles and new stationary in-service noise tests;
   
• implementation of a 'smoky vehicle' program to reduce diesel emissions under the National Environment Protection Measure (NEPM) for Diesel Vehicle Emissions. Tasmania applies the NEPM through the State Policies and Projects Act 1993 and the Vehicle and Traffic (Vehicle Standards) Regulations 2001; and
   
• participation in the variation to the Ambient Air Quality NEPM to facilitate development of a PM_2.5 standard for fine particles.
   
• An Ambient Air Toxics NEPM is currently being developed.
   
• Several national initiatives implemented in recent years to improve air emissions from the Australian transport sector have benefited Tasmania. These include the introduction of:
   
• lead replacement petrol;
   
• new Australian Design Rules for vehicle emission standards (introduced in 2002); and
   
• a 1997 Australian government environmental strategy for the motor vehicle industry, primarily designed to encourage reduced fuel consumption.