Marty Hiatt, Mish Colla, Michael Langley (rear), Maria Zijlstra, chief spokesman John Langer and Susan Brewer are protesting changes to the terminal station
BRUNSWICK residents' health was an afterthought when the state government approved plans to expand an electricity terminal station in the suburb, Brunswick MLA Jane Garrett said.
A Freedom of Information Act request to Planning Minister Matthew Guy's office about health briefings thought to have been held prior to the station's approval returned no documents. Ms Garrett said the lack of documents suggested Mr Guy had not consulted on health and had failed her constituents.
But Mr Guy's spokeswoman said all documents would have been filed with the planning department and therefore were not the subject of this request.
In February this year Mr Guy approved the $271 million upgrade of the Brunswick Terminal Station, overturning a Moreland City Council rejection in part on health grounds.
Residents, supported by state and federal members, have opposed the terminal upgrade and called for transparency on the government's health investigations.
The request to Mr Guy's ministerial office called for any briefing documents relating to the "health impact, potential health impact and health assessment of the proposed terminal station".
The same FOI request was sent to Energy Minister Michael O'Brien's ministerial office, with the response stating one document exists but could not be released.
MTW asked Mr Guy's office to confirm whether he had been briefed on any health impacts of the expanded station, but received no answer.
Another FOI was lodged with the Department of Primary Industries but the response has been held past its statutory time limit and the issue is being challenged at VCAT.
Ms Garrett said it looked like Mr Guy "did not turn his mind in any way shape or form to the health and safety impacts".
Mr O'Brien's spokeswoman Emily Broadbent said the expansion was becoming "increasingly urgent" to maintain a reliable electricity supply, and that other terminal stations of similar size existed in Melbourne.