Council to Wettenhall Logistics: You're not welcome

Date: 15.10.2013

Wettenhall Logistics disappointed after Melbourne council announces it doesn't want company operating super B-doubles on its roads

By Ruza Zivkusic-Aftasi | October 15, 2013

A Melbourne council has no plans to allow Wettenhall Logistics’ higher productivity super B-double units to operate on its roads.

Maribyrnong Council intends to oppose the application it has received from the container carrier at its meeting tonight, saying the community needs to be consulted before the larger trucks are approved to carry freight on its network.

Wettenhall Logistics has applied to use Olympia Street in Tottenham, the first application the council has received from the Dandenong South operator.

Although the council previously indicated support for the use of higher productivity freight vehicles (HPFV) after VicRoads identified suitable routes in the area that link the Port of Melbourne with major industrial areas in the west and north of Melbourne, it now claims certain issues have not been addressed.

Maribyrnong Infrastructure and Engineering Director Ian Butterworth says the council wants to see an agreed freight route before approving 30m trucks to operate on its streets between 7am and 4.30pm.

VicRoads saw the route fit based on a trial of super B-doubles at the intersection of Sunshine Road and Olympia Street.

The department also approved seven other routes in Maribyrnong but the council claims there has been no formal feedback from VicRoads regarding the performance of the trial.

"HPFVs have received considerable interest in the media and community concerns exist about their perceived size, bulk and safety on the road network," Butterworth says.

"Community acceptance of these larger vehicles through our municipality remains an issue for consideration."

Wettenhall Logistics Operations Supervisor Cecil King says the council’s actions are disappointing.

"I can’t understand their reasoning. If it was in a built-up area I’d fully understand, I wouldn’t even apply," he says.

"The street is wide enough to go down there, there are traffic lights, you can turn right down at it with a super B-double without crossing into other lanes and coming out of it you can turn right doing other things just as same as a normal B-double.

"I would gladly invite the council to see how they operate."

The super B-doubles enrolled in the Intelligent Access Program (IAP), which allows VicRoads to track the vehicles using GPS.

Wettenhall Logistics is the first company to be granted approval to operate super B-doubles in Victoria.