By Matthew Sims
Victorian Greens senator Janet Rice has called on the state government to immediately end all exemptions given to heavy trucks and road trains during curfew hours in Footscray and transport material for the West Gate Tunnel project by rail.
Curfews in place include along Somerville Road between Geelong Road and Whitehall Street and Moore Street, as well as a 24/7 truck ban along Hyde Street north of Francis Street.
Speaking in federal parliament on Tuesday, March 7, she said the ongoing presence of trucks within the Footscray area breaching curfews created “massive problems”.
“Footscray is my home, so I know what a huge win this was for the local community,” she said.
“It was a triumph for grassroots and community campaigns.
“Yet, eight years later, the Andrews government has failed to adequately enforce and monitor the curfew and Footscray residents continue to be appallingly impacted by the continuous presence of heavy trucks and road trains.”
Ms Rice said Footscray’s streets had become a major thoroughfare for road trains and other heavy vehicles as part of the West Gate Tunnel project.
“Disappointingly, a growing number of these trucks have exemptions from the government to access residential streets in the area,” she said.
“These trucks have a huge negative impact and health of this community.”
Ms Rice also spoke about the recent death of 22-year-old Hobsons Bay local and former Williamstown High School student Angus Collins at the intersection of Footscray Road and Dock Link Road and the risks trucks posed to pedestrians and cyclists.
“My heart goes out to his family and friends,” she said.
Ms Rice said she was angry that her work campaigning against the prevalence of heavy vehicles in Maribyrnong had led to little change.
“The Footscray community fought hard for the truck curfew in 2015, and it should be upheld,” she said.
“The community has seen little to no change regarding heavy vehicles.”
