Relationship with MTAG: MTAG has a good working relationship with the Victorian Labor party, having met regularly with previous Labor Government ministers and MP’s over many years.
Project 10,000 is State Labor’s transport policy.This policy includes construction of the West Gate Distributor, a new road link from the West Gate Freeway to Melbourne Port through industrial areas of Yarraville. Estimated to cost $400-$500 million, this planned toll road with new on and off ramps to the freeway, is based on recommendations from the Eddington East-West study from 2007. This road link was also part of the Brumby governments 2008 Victorian Transport Plan but was never built before losing office in 2010.
The Project 10,000 policy is projected to remove over 5,000 trucks per day from the West Gate Bridge. However the policy does not specifically mention how many trucks will be removed from residential streets. Eddington suggested this road could remove 1,000,000 trucks per year from residential streets. The Project 10,000 policy makes no actual mention of truck problems on residential streets, only mentioning how many trucks will be removed from the West Gate Bridge.
Opposition leader Daniel Andrews has publicly stated that should Labor win office they will fast track the West Gate Distributor, calling for expressions of interest to build it within the first six months of taking office.
Wade Noonan is the Labor MP for Williamstown. His electorate includes the main residential freight truck routes of Somerville Road, Williamstown Road and Francis Street. Wade has been very active on the truck issue and has been calling for solutions since winning office in 2007.
Statement from MP Wade Noonan:
Our community has lived with the constant rumbling, noise and pollution of thousands of trucks on their doorsteps for long enough.
That’s why I’ve worked closely with the Maribyrnong Truck Action Group (MTAG) to advocate for a dedicated truck bypass road to be built between the West Gate Freeway and the Port of Melbourne, involving new on- and –off ramps from the freeway to Hyde St, the widening of Francis, Whitehall and Moreland Streets to four lanes, and strengthening of Shepherd Bridge to Footscray Road.
Traffic modelling conducted by VicRoads in 2010 confirmed that the construction of the new bypass would remove 50-70% trucks off local roads such as Francis Street and Somerville Road.
Labor’s pledge to deliver this vital piece of infrastructure within our first term has been embraced by the community. At the time of Labor’s announcement (Nov 2013), MTAG Secretary Martin Wurt stated, “MTAG has been campaigning for years for a truck bypass and this plan has broad support in the community.”
To coincide with the delivery of the truck bypass, Labor will work closely with Maribyrnong Council to increase truck restrictions and bans on local roads.
Labor’s truck bypass commitment is fully costed and funded and will create 600 new construction jobs.