Frustrated residents will take their fight against truck traffic back to the streets when they shut down Yarraville’s Somerville Road next month.
The Maribyrnong Truck Action Group protest will push for immediate introduction of truck curfews during school crossing times to protect the 1500 pupils heading to and from schools near the road, including Kingsville, Yarraville West and St Augustine’s primary schools, and Merriwa kindergarten.
MTAG president Samantha McArthur said VicRoads and the state government were doing nothing about a problem putting children’s health and safety at risk.
“Our kids deserve the right to travel to and from school in a safe, non-toxic environment,” she said.
A legal protest, which organisers have dubbed a family-friendly “before school party” will be held from 8am on Tuesday, November 12, outside Kingsville Primary School. The protest is being held with the knowledge of VicRoads and Victoria Police, which will block traffic as necessary for safety. Ms McArthur said truck numbers had been steadily rising in the past two decades, as had pollution levels which Environment Protection Authority and World Health Organisation standards prescribe as dangerous to health.
“We would like to see kids and parents affected by diesel pollution and dangerous truck traffic come down to Kingsville Primary School school crossing and join with us to say ‘enough’,” she said.
VicRoads acting regional director Sebastian Motta said truck counts showed 308 fewer trucks per day using Somerville Road since 2011 – a drop from 2271 to 1963 west of Williamstown Road.
He said additional curfews would increase truck traffic on nearby roads, particularly Yarraville’s Francis Street.
“VicRoads is working with the cities of Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay regarding the issue of trucks in the inner west,” he said.
“It must also consult with a number of other affected stakeholders, including residents, businesses and industry and the Port of Melbourne, before requests to alter truck routes or impose curfews can be implemented.”
