A truck ban across four Hume roads has been backed by an overwhelming majority of residents.
At Monday’s June 23 council meeting, Hume council voted unanimously in favour of a motion to restrict B-doubles and other heavy vehicles from using Konagaderra Road, Bardwell Drive, Gellies Road, and Wildwood Road as freight shortcuts, following a public consultation where 82 per cent of respondents supported the ban.
“What we are discussing here is a potential truck ban on some of our rural roads,” Cr Kate Hamley said.
“Hume has a lot of rural roads that are experiencing a high degree of heavy vehicle traffic. But the road alignment and pavements are not always designed to carry such high levels of heavy vehicle traffic, so there’s safety and operational issues.”
Cr Hamley said 380 submissions were received during consultation, with 320 residents in support.
The ban, still to be finalised at the July 14 council meeting, includes exemptions for trucks accessing properties and local businesses.
Wildwood locals raised safety issues on narrow one-lane bridges, while Sunbury residents pointed to Gellies Road –a setting from Mad Max– as a cultural site under threat from 24-hour haulage.
Long-time resident and truck owner Peter Michael-Burns said, “If the decision is to ban trucks, if it increases the number of trucks that cross the Bulla bridge by one, don’t do it… eventually the odds of a major catastrophe there are enormous.”
Mr Michael-Burns also warned of dangers at nearby intersections.
“Going south down Mickleham Road there must be a light put at the turn into Barwood Drive. Otherwise there will be deaths at that corner.”
While supportive of safer streets, he cautioned the ban “will be driving up people’s costs by having an extra 10 kilometres on their deliveries.”
