“Monster trucks” may soon be rolling into local industrial areas after two transport operators put the case for their use to Maribyrnong council.
A report to last night’s council meeting recommended the council approve “high- productivity freight vehicles” (HPFVs) access to the Tottenham Industrial Precinct.
The 30-metre super B-doubles have the capacity to carry two 40-foot containers or four 20-foot containers weighing up to 68.5 tonnes.
They have been permitted access to major freeways along with “last mile” access on certain arterial and local roads in consultation with local government.
Maribyrnong council decided in October, 2013 to refuse consent pending development of a freight network plan with VicRoads and the Western Transport Alliance.
Rocke Brothers and FBT Transwest are the first to lodge applications to operate on local roads in Maribyrnong since then.
Rocke Brothers managing director Matt Simmons predicted the company could cut its 400,000 annual truck movements on Alick Road, Tottenham, by 30 per cent within a year.
FBT Transwest managing director Cameron Dunn’s April 7 letter to council argues the use of HPFV trucks to carry two large shipping containers could help cut road congestion.
Both companies are seeking access to transport depots around Alick Road via Somerville, McDonald and Geelong roads, passing through Brimbank en route to Maribyrnong.
Brimbank infrastructure and environment director Paul Younis said this proposal did not require Brimbank approval as the trucks would remain on the declared arterial road network within the city.
The report to Maribyrnong council predicts further applications are likely yet it notes community acceptance of the larger trucks remains an issue.
Maribyrnong Truck Action Group secretary Martin Wurt said the group was adamantly opposed to the trucks using residential streets but supported their use on major routes and within industrial precincts.
