The announcement of new no-truck zones in the inner-west has been cautiously welcomed by local traffic campaigners who still want more done to improve safety and air-quality in the area.
The state government announced the location of six 24-hour no-truck zones that will come into effect when the West Gate Tunnel opens later this year.
Francis Street and Somerville Road in Yarraville, Buckley Street and Moore Street in Footscray, Blackshaws Road in Altona North and Hudsons Road in Spotswood will all become truck-free zones, with state-of-the-art cameras used to enforce them.
“These regulations and the smart cameras will help us take thousands of trucks a day off local streets right across the inner west, improving safety and air quality for the community,” Ports and Freight Minister Melissa Horne said.
The new regulations will feature exemptions, including for two-axle trucks that aren’t transporting shipping containers, ensuring the delivery of groceries, parcels and other services. Motor homes, emergency service and police heavy vehicles, trucks garaged within no-truck zones as well as buses, tow trucks, concrete trucks and waste disposal trucks will also be exempt.
Despite these exemptions, the truck-free zones still represent a victory for the The Maribyrnong Truck Action Group (MTG) which has been campaigning for the removal of trucks and heavy vehicles from inner-west roads since 2005.
“To see those roads moved to no-truck zones will be really positive for the local community,” MTAG spokesperson Glen Yates said.
However, he said a downside would be an increase in truck traffic on Williamstown Road.
“We know that Williamstown Road will see a 1750 truck increase per day,” said Mr Yates, adding the real figure could be much higher.
He said the ultimate solution was to have air filters added to the new tunnel’s ventilation stacks.
“Exhaust fumes that would’ve been dispersed over a wider area will now be concentrated out of the two non-filtered stacks,” said Mr Yates, adding that MTAG were continuing to campaign for their addition.
The state government has continually argued that tunnel filters are not needed, with the height of the ventilation stacks and hi-velocity fans sufficient to prevent any reduction in air quality.
