Residents bracing for thousands more trucks rumbling through their streets when the West Gate Tunnel opens will have their concerns heard through a new study group.
The state government’s Corridor Study Group will investigate safety and other issues in the Millers Road and Williamstown Road corridors.
News of the group comes as western suburbs Greens MP Huong Truong announced a notice of motion to revoke the tunnel’s planning scheme amendment for a second time.
The tollway project is predicted to funnel 4000 extra trucks a day onto Millers Road and double truck traffic on Williamstown Road to 5000 trucks a day by 2030.
The study group will also consider the impacts on Grieve Parade, Kororoit Creek Road and areas already covered by truck bans.
Terms of reference provided to Star Weekly show the group will be unable to discuss existing issues along curfew roads or impacts directly resulting from construction of the tollway project.
Chaired by VicRoads, group membership will be via invitation to stakeholders.
Community representatives will join a working group that will make recommendations to a steering group comprising VicRoads, local councils and other authorities for decision.
Roads Minister Luke Donnellan said the inner-west community deserved to have a say.
“They know these roads and we’re looking forward to hearing their ideas,” he said.
Williamstown MP Wade Noonan said the group would help produce the best outcomes.
“The tunnel won’t open until 2022, so we have time to consider ways to remove as many trucks from local roads and restore community amenity in the inner west,” he said.
The study group will operate from mid-2018 and meet every two months for at least 12 months.
The Greens are moving to revoke the tunnel’s planning approval for a second time, after teaming up with the Liberals and Nationals in March to revoke the original amendment.
Ms Truong said the fact Labor continued to push ahead without proper planning approvals showed complete disregard for Parliament.
“Another toll road is going to create more pollution, more congestion, and comes at the cost of investment in public transport,” she said.
Roads minister Luke Donnellan said the motion will be a huge test of Matthew Guy’s leadership.
“Will he listen to industry and community groups and finally support the West Gate Tunnel, or will he side with the Greens to sack 1200 workers and cancel this urgently needed project?”
