MTAG marches on parliament to protest against trucks, vowing to block roads unless action is taken
By Ruza Zivkusic | November 22, 2010
Melbourne west’s residents say they will continue blocking major routes to the Port of Melbourne until the Victorian Government listens to their calls.
The Maribyrnong Truck Action Group President Peter Knight, who organised a rally today at the steps of Parliament House, is calling on the government that wins this Saturday’s election to introduce night-time curfews on Buckley and Moore Streets and to implement a 50km speed limit for both streets.
It is MTAG’s third rally in the past two months. Up to 100 people protested for 15 minutes last month as the police blocked the streets during morning peak hour.
Knight claims 1000 trucks use the suburban streets every hour and that the current situation cannot continue.
“If it means for blocking all the routes for one hour during peak hour then we’ll do it, if it means doing that once a month we’re not going to stop until big changes come,” Knight says.
“We call on the Brumby Government to fully fund the Truck Action Plan and to fast-track it to provide relief for inner west residents.
“So far the government has put up $40 million of a total cost of $380. It’s a good start but people really want to know why they have not fully funded a project that is so urgently needed.”