Christine de Kock
CITY of Maribyrnong mayor Michael Clarke has called for a $5000 fine for freight truck drivers who travel through the central business district of Footscray.
He made the comment in the wake of the announcement, that a truck ban will be put in place to prevent freight trucks travelling on local roads in the central business district of Footscray, to and from the Port of Melbourne.
“There will be a fine that is $113 but what I’d say is, a real deterrent needs to be more than a slap on the wrist,” Cr Clarke said.
“One of the ideas that has been floated is, well, what if we fine the drivers $5000 and then we fine the truck operators $25,000.
“How long and how many violations of the truck ban would you get, before you see a complete cessation of that behaviour?
“And very clearly that is something that should be considered.
“The abuse perpetrated on the community by trucks that are hurtling down our streets at excessive speeds, violating curfews … really the community are at the end of their tether,” Cr Clarke said.
Trucks over 4.5 tonnes will not be allowed on Nicholson St, travelling from Buckley to Irving St.
They will be prohibited on Irving St, from Nicholson to Hopkins streets, and Barkly-Hopkins St, from Geelong Rd to Moore St.
The ban will not relate to delivery trucks, which will still be allowed to access local shops and businesses.
Cr Clarke said the council wanted trucks to be banned in both directions of Nicholson St.
“However, VicRoads needed an option for high trucks travelling east along Buckley St to be able to avoid the low rail bridge (four-metre height limit) on Napier St if they accidentally entered the roundabout,” he said.
“Because we need to make sure high trucks can get off the roundabout before colliding with the rail bridge – VicRoads and council came up with an alternative route, which directs high trucks to circle back onto the very end of Nicholson St if they need to, and then backtrack along Buckley St to Geelong Rd to avoid Central Footscray,” Cr Clarke said.
In a news release the council said: “The ban means trucks less than four metres high can travel along Buckley St, through the roundabout to Napier St and Footscray Rd.
“Trucks over four metres will be encouraged to use the West Gate Freeway or travel along Geelong Rd to Ballarat Rd and Moore St, to access Dynon Rd and Whitehall St.”
Councillor Janet Rice, whose ward takes in Footscray, said she had been fighting for this ban on behalf of the community for the past four years.
“Trucks using the shopping precinct as a thoroughfare are a huge safety concern – just look at the number of truck-related accidents in the area in the last few months,” she said.
The ban is expected to be put in place within the next three weeks.
Cr Clarke said the council was waiting for VicRoads to send a “Memorandum of Consent” that will give the council the legal right to put up the truck ban signs.
“VicRoads is also reviewing the advance warning signage that needs to be erected at the same time,” he said.
