Two MPs are pushing to get the Truck Action Plan back on the Victorian Government's agenda
By Ruza Zivkusic | May 18, 2011
Two members of the Victorian Parliament are collecting signatures for a petition to have the Truck Action Plan put back on the agenda.
No funding for the plan was announced by the Coalition Government in this year’s state budget.
MPs Wade Noonan and Marsha Thomson have gathered more than 700 signatures in their Williamstown and Footscray electorates for the project to be reconsidered so that trucks are taken off local streets.
Although he was not expecting the plan to be included in the budget, Noonan says it is crucial for residents and transport operators who struggle with the increasing congestion.
“Freight is a growing concern in our area and transport companies are worried how they will deliver freight efficiently,” he says.
Opposition spokeswoman on roads Jacinta Allan says an indefinite review of the plan will not solve the truck problem.
“We don’t need another review of the Truck Action Plan,” she says.
“What local families want is a commitment by the Baillieu Government to reduce truck movements by between 50 and 70 percent on Francis Street and Somerville Road in Yarraville.”
She says the previous government funded an initial $40 million to build the first section outlined in the plan but Premier Ted Baillieu failed to commit additional funds for stages two and three.
“The Baillieu Government knows that truck traffic to and from Melbourne’s port will continue to grow at a dramatic rate, yet refuses to offer any solutions to reduce truck traffic on local roads,” Allan says.