Victoria’s freight industry is sharply divided over the Government’s decision to enforce a new Williamstown Road truck ban once the West Gate Tunnel opens in December.
The Victorian Transport Association (VTA) has welcomed the curfews, saying that they will enhance liveability for inner-west residents while providing freight operators with a more efficient route to the Port of Melbourne.
However, the Container Transport Alliance Australia (CTAA) has taken the opposite view, warning that the ban will push trucks onto ageing corridors, such as Millers Road, and create new congestion and cost pressures for operators.
VTA says ban is a win for both freight and communities
According to the VTA’s statement on November 16, 2025, the West Gate Tunnel will provide a seamless alternative for heavy vehicles that require direct access to the Port of Melbourne.
The organisation says this shift will reduce truck movements on local streets in Seddon and Yarraville, delivering more predictable travel times for freight operators.
VTA CEO Peter Anderson says the new arrangement delivers a balance between community amenity and freight efficiency.
“The West Gate Tunnel will provide a much more seamless and efficient alternative for heavy vehicles that require direct access to the Port of Melbourne,” Anderson says. “Residents will enjoy safer and quieter streets, while freight operators will benefit from improved travel times and reliability.”
He says the curfew is part of planning for a freight task expected to double by 2050, adding that the tunnel is critical infrastructure for supporting larger and more productive heavy vehicles.
But CTAA warns ban will push freight onto failing routes
CTAA has pushed back firmly, saying that the curfew will divert thousands of trucks onto Millers Road and toward Transurban’s M1 tolling point, thereby increasing costs and worsening congestion.
In CTAA’s separate response (used as your internal backlink source), Director Neil Chambers said the Government has failed to deliver long-promised upgrades to key freight corridors.
He warned that container cartage costs could increase by 13 to 30 per cent as operators face more tolls, longer detours and restricted access.
CTAA argues that the curfew ignores years of freight planning advice and risks undermining the efficiency of Melbourne’s port supply chain.
New rules and exemptions
Once the West Gate Tunnel opens, Williamstown Road will become a No Truck Zone between Geelong Street in Seddon and the West Gate Freeway in Yarraville, with curfews applying:
- Weekdays: 8 pm to 6 am
- Weekends8 pmpm Friday 6 am6am Monday
Smart roadside cameras will monitor compliance. Exemptions will be available for essential deliveries.
A sector divided as opening date approaches
While the VTA views the curfew as a necessary step to enhance community amenity and streamline port access, CTAA has framed it as a move that will weaken supply chain reliability and increase consumer prices.
Both groups agree that the freight task is growing rapidly and that infrastructure must keep pace.
They differ sharply on whether Victoria has delivered enough network upgrades to support new restrictions.
With the tunnel’s opening weeks away, the debate highlights the growing pressure on Melbourne’s inner-west corridors and the challenge of balancing regional liveability with the expansion of the freight economy.