YARRAVILLE residents continue to be hammered by truck noise that would be unacceptable on new roads, a report reveals.
Air pollution and noise testing by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) reveals average weekday noise levels in Francis Street are up to 78 decibels — 15 decibels higher than VicRoads’ guidelines for new roads.
The results have been released at the halfway point of a year-long EPA monitoring program, which has come under fire from residents for failing to measure air pollution in the area’s worst-affected locations.
EPA director Matt Vincent said the results showed air pollution being at ‘low levels’ in Francis Street, a claim denied by the Maribyrnong Truck Action Group (MTAG).
Group president Samantha McArthur said the EPA was measuring away from the most heavily hit areas and using “outdated” pollution level guidelines. “We know this area has the highest hospitalisation rate for respiratory illness in children in the state,” she said. “We would like to see the EPA become something other than a rubber stamp for the state government; they are using these results as a way to maintain the status quo.”
Mr Vincent said the EPA report found “concerning noise levels” caused by 5800 trucks using Francis Street each weekday.
“What we found was that noise levels were high enough to impact residents during the week but were less at the weekend [during curfew].”
VicRoads regional director Patricia Liew said long-term solutions would be reviewed once the EPA completed its 12-month testing program.
Interim initiatives “to balance the needs of industry and residents” include industry education, targeted enforcement and reviewing on-road signage. Ms Liew said truck curfews, traffic lights and driver education in the past decade had led to fewer trucks on Francis Street during curfew hours.
“VicRoads is also part of a truck curfew review committee chaired by the City of Maribyrnong, which is reviewing the operation of truck curfews and considering some short- to medium-term options in the inner-west.”
■ A NEW interstate freight terminal in Truganina is expected to take more than 700,000 trucks a year off Melbourne’s roads, according to the state government.
The federal government will contribute $3.5 million towards a $5 million feasibility study for the proposed Western Interstate Freight Terminal, with the remaining $1.5 million to be funded by the state government.
Victorian Roads Minister Terry Mulder said the project had the potential to ease congestion around the Port of Melbourne and remove 2000 truck movements each day from Melbourne’s inner-west, including Yarraville.
