2016-10-25
Members statement:
My members statement is in relation to a letter I sent to Minister Donnellan yesterday:
I am writing in regards to the ban on container truck loads greater than 68.5 tons on the West Gate Bridge, due to come into force on 1 November 2016.
As the local MLC for the western suburbs, this decision has serious ramifications for my constituents. It will have the inevitable consequence of exacerbating the already intolerable
traffic load of large trucks on suburban streets in the inner west.
It is inappropriate that these large, heavy trucks will now be diverted into residential streets in Melbourne’s inner west suburbs.
As would be aware, the local community has been campaigning for many years to reduce the amount of truck movements on local streets and to expand truck curfews to protect the health and safety of residents, particularly young children.
If these trucks cannot be accommodated on the West Gate Bridge, they should not be put onto the road.
I call upon the minister to explain to the community what evidence there is that the West Gate can no longer accommodate these trucks, how many of these trucks will actually now be on western suburbs roads and why it was that he decided to make an announcement in the press and once again not even bother to tell the local community.