This month, our inbox has been flooded with letters regarding the West Gate Tunnel and the
“stacks” that many of you fear will funnel fumes directly over our homes and schools. It’s a
valid fear. Air pollution is a massive local issue, yet it often feels like we are shouting into a
void when it comes to state and federal attention.
We are seeing a trend of “cookie-cutter” housing developments that prioritise profit over
liveability. We are seeing the Kealba landfill saga drag on, a toxic neighbour that residents
can’t escape. It is easy to feel powerless when the machinery of progress rolls over the top
of community concern.
But this is exactly why local journalism matters and your engagement.
We need to be the ones asking the hard questions about the old Footscray Hospital site. We
need to be the ones scrutinising the environmental impact of new freight routes. Major news
outlets have economised by cutting local coverage, leaving communities like ours in the
dark.
Transparency is critical for building trust. When you write to us, when you engage with these
stories, you are reclaiming a bit of that power. You are saying that this is our backyard, and
we have a say in how it grows.
As we head into 2026, let’s keep the pressure on. Let’s demand better infrastructure, not just
more infrastructure. Let’s protect our green wedges as fiercely as we protect our heritage
facades. A 20-minute city is a great concept, but only if the air we breathe during that
20-minute walk is clean.
If you have a comment on these local issues, send it to editor@thewestsider.com.au
