FOOTSCRAY and Yarraville residents, fed up with trucks ‘rat-running’ through residential streets to avoid paying tolls, are venting their frustration by blockading one of the area’s busiest roads.
The Maribyrnong Truck Action Group (MTAG) will close down Shepherd Bridge later this month in a protest demanding that the state government fast-track work on linking the port with the West Gate Freeway.
Musicians and a mass sing-along of protesters will block the road as part of the ‘Deliver Us From Diesel’ action aimed at claiming back the streets.
MTAG spokesman Peter Knight said building ramps to and from the West Gate Bridge to link the freeway to the port would take 10,000 trucks a day off local streets suffering Melbourne’s worst diesel pollution.
“[The ramps] have been on VicRoads’ books since the Kennett era and are shovel-ready,” he said. “But instead of getting on with it, the government rabbits on about a pie-in-the-sky tunnel which, at best, will not be completed for 15 years. And even then it’s doubtful whether it will solve our truck problems.”
Mr Knight said that even if the tunnel was built a toll would deter trucks from using it when they could still drive through residential streets.
“They could already save time by taking the Bolte Bridge from the ports, but they don’t want to because there’s a toll on it,” he said.
This, in turn, impacts on the health of residents, as reflected by a recent World Health Organisation report declaring diesel pollution to be carcinogenic.
Mr Knight argued that residents had been left with little alternative but to take their protest to the streets. “We’ve been to countless meetings with VicRoads, the government, the EPA and [Maribyrnong] council, and our very reasonable requests are ignored,” he said.
“We don’t expect truck-free streets, but 20,000 a day and rising is just too many.”
The blockade has the approval and co-operation of Victoria Police who will block the traffic from 8-8.30am on November 27 for what Mr Knight said should be a fun protest with a serious message.
“We have some of the most prominent musicians in the west and we’re going to raise a sound that they will hear in Spring Street,” he said.
“Bring something to bang, blow or strum.”
VicRoads regional director Patricia Liew said the organisation was aware of the protest and was liaising with Victoria Police on the matter.
