BUDGET WIN – ENFORCING 24/7 TRUCK BANS IN THE INNER WEST
The Allan Labor government has committed $10.2M in the 2024-25 Budget to provide 24/7 camera enforcement for truck bans in the inner west of Melbourne.
The funding commitment follows a community campaign led by Member for Footscray Katie Hall to ensure that the truck bans were backed up by strong enforcement.
In discussions with locals, Katie heard clearly that people were fed up with trucks rumbling down local streets and were calling for an urgent fix.
In response, Katie launched a petition on her website to put the views of the community on record and presented it to the Minister for Ports and Freight, Roads and Road Safety in Parliament.
With over 450 signatures, the message was clear – enforce truck bans now.
Strong enforcement is critical to realising West Gate Tunnel’s potential to take 9000 heavy vehicles off local roads and residential streets every day.
The Victorian Government will begin enforcing 24-hour truck bans through video analytics technology upon the completion of the West Gate Tunnel Project.
Preparations for the 24/7 ban have been underway over the past year with data cameras in operation throughout the inner west, monitoring the movements of trucks and forming the basis for future enforcement.
Once implemented enforcement cameras will complement the work of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator in changing driver behaviour and making sure drivers observe local curfews 24/7, with harsh penalties for trucks that flout the law.
For people living in the inner west this means safer roads, improved local air quality and less truck noise in our residential streets.
For more information on how the truck bans will work, visit: https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/projects/west-gate-tunnel-project/about/greener-and-better-connected-west/trucks-off-local-roads
Quotes attributable to Katie Hall:
“The West Gate Tunnel will take 9000 heavy vehicles off local inner west roads every day – but we need strong enforcement to make that a reality.”
“I want to thank all the passionate local community members for their continued advocacy and help with my petition to get this great outcome. “