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Labor MP seeks commitment on truck access

MP wants the Victorian Government to rule out granting higher productivity vehicles access to Eltham roads

By Brad Gardner | March 21, 2013

A Victorian Labor MP has sought assurances from the state’s government higher productivity vehicles will not be granted access to a suburb north-east of Melbourne.

Eltham MP Steve Herbert says he has “grave concerns” in the wake of Transport Minister Terry Mulder’s recent comments to the Australian Logistics Council Annual Forum.

Mulder spruiked the benefits of the larger trucks, but added that industry needed to win communities over before the vehicles could be allowed on residential streets.

Herbert wants Mulder to guarantee the trucks will not be able to use Wattletree Road, which acts as a key link to main routes in the area.

“Many local residents will be extremely concerned to learn that Eltham’s road infrastructure could be considered to be a potential target for road freight, in particular Wattletree Road, which is an important north–south commuter road,” Herbert says.

“An expansion of freight traffic would be like a wrecking ball to our community, and it is something that should not be contemplated under any circumstances by any government.”

The request came as a colleague of Herbert’s, Labor MP Anthony Carbines, called on Mulder to consider load limits, speed restrictions and curfews for trucks using Rosanna Road in Rosanna, which is about 25 minutes north-east of the Melbourne CBD, to address safety concerns.

“This is the Greensborough Road–Rosanna Road–Lower Heidelberg Road corridor, which is a particular issue in my electorate,” Carbines says.
He says increasing traffic congestion is having a negative impact on residents.

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