Hundreds of residents have shut down a busy Yarraville intersection in protest against the state government’s refusal to announce blanket truck bans on local roads once the Western Distributor is completed.
The protest at the intersection of Francis Street and Williamstown Road called on the government to commit to permanent truck bans and provide “world’s best practice filtration” on the tunnel.
Protestors carried a giant ‘Port Trucks Out’ banner and chanted for trucks bans while a band played and children chalked anti-truck messages on the road.
Maribyrnong Truck Action Group (MTAG) president Samantha McArthur said the bans were needed as the area had the country’s highest rate of hospitalisation for children with respiratory issues.
MTAG secretary Martin Wurt said the area already has massive problem with trucks avoiding a toll of $5.50 on the Bolte Bridge and using local streets.
“So if the toll’s going to be $13 on this new tunnel, we’re going to continue to have this massive issue.”
Oncology pharmacist and clean air advocate Clare Walter said the bans were essential for providing cleaner air for residents, particularly children.
Maribyrnong Councillor Grant Miles said the $5.5 billion Western Distributor project would be a waste of money if trucks weren’t forced to use it.
He told the crowd Buckley Street in Footscray and Seddon would bear the brunt of rat-running if bans were only introduced on certain routes.
But Victorian Transport Association chief executive Peter Anderson said the industry does not support permanently banning trucks from inner west roads.
“Bans and curfews are not solutions, send entirely the wrong message about how our roads should be used, and undermine the sharing the road culture that all road users need to adopt,” he said.
“They unfairly portray drivers who are trying to do their jobs moving goods as acting against the community’s interest and their safety.”
An anti-truck protest has shut down a busy Yarraville intersection. Photo by Benjamin Millar
Mr Anderson said the Victorian Transport Association is confident that heavy vehicle traffic on roads in the inner west will reduce significantly once the Western Distributor and West Gate Distributor connections are built.
Speaking ahead of the protest, state roads minister Luke Donnellan said Maribyrnong residents complaining about trucks on residential streets were playing “Kumbaya with the Greens”.
“It’s fine to do Kumbaya with the Greens, but what we’re doing is, we’re working with industry and the local community.”
