Ballieu Ignores Vital Truck Action Plan
- Details
- Monday, 21 November 2011 09:58
The Baillieu Government has turned its back on families in Melbourne’s western suburbs and the freight industry by failing to make the Truck Action Plan a priority infrastructure project, Shadow Roads Minister, Jacinta Allan, said today.
Ms Allan, who joined Member for Williamstown Wade Noonan in Yarraville, said the Baillieu Government’s failure to implement the Truck Action Plan (TAP) would have a negative impact on residents, industry and Melbourne’s growing road congestion.
“The Baillieu Government has spent almost 12 months reviewing the TAP, putting on hold the $40 million funded by the previous Labor Government to start stage one works,” Ms Allan said.
“Now the Baillieu Government’s infrastructure ‘thought bubble’ has not included the Truck Action Plan which would have removed trucks from suburban streets and improved truck access to Melbourne’s port as a priority project,” Ms Allan said.
Ms Allan said despite the Premier’s promise to be open and accountable, the Government had blocked the Opposition’s attempts to seek information about the review and the plan’s future.
“Three Freedom of Information requests have not been responded to within the 45 day limit, and the Environment Protection Authority has been gagged from talking to the community and the Opposition about truck emission monitoring studies,” she said.
“Roads Minister Terry Mulder has stated publicly that he would be talking to the Commonwealth Government about the Truck Action Plan. If that’s the case, then surely there must be some correspondence available for release under our FOI laws.
“The Baillieu Government has disregarded VicRoads advice to implement the Truck Action Plan, the same advice which has mysteriously disappeared from the VicRoads website.
“The Baillieu Government has turned its back on families in Melbourne’s western suburbs by refusing to back a plan that would remove up to one million trucks from local streets and provide benefits for industry with a direct route to the Port of Melbourne and freeway.
“The previous Labor Government worked very hard to win support for the Truck Action Plan and allocated $40 million to commence the first of three stages of the truck bypass route.
Mr Noonan said the delays and silencing of independent bodies proved that the Baillieu Government would go to extraordinary lengths to kill off the Truck Action Plan.
“The Baillieu Government is clearly going to scrap the Truck Action Plan, so why don’t they just admit it,” Mr Noonan said.
“I’ll continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the community until Mr Baillieu delivers.”
Ms Allan, who joined Member for Williamstown Wade Noonan in Yarraville, said the Baillieu Government’s failure to implement the Truck Action Plan (TAP) would have a negative impact on residents, industry and Melbourne’s growing road congestion.
“The Baillieu Government has spent almost 12 months reviewing the TAP, putting on hold the $40 million funded by the previous Labor Government to start stage one works,” Ms Allan said.
“Now the Baillieu Government’s infrastructure ‘thought bubble’ has not included the Truck Action Plan which would have removed trucks from suburban streets and improved truck access to Melbourne’s port as a priority project,” Ms Allan said.
Ms Allan said despite the Premier’s promise to be open and accountable, the Government had blocked the Opposition’s attempts to seek information about the review and the plan’s future.
“Three Freedom of Information requests have not been responded to within the 45 day limit, and the Environment Protection Authority has been gagged from talking to the community and the Opposition about truck emission monitoring studies,” she said.
“Roads Minister Terry Mulder has stated publicly that he would be talking to the Commonwealth Government about the Truck Action Plan. If that’s the case, then surely there must be some correspondence available for release under our FOI laws.
“The Baillieu Government has disregarded VicRoads advice to implement the Truck Action Plan, the same advice which has mysteriously disappeared from the VicRoads website.
“The Baillieu Government has turned its back on families in Melbourne’s western suburbs by refusing to back a plan that would remove up to one million trucks from local streets and provide benefits for industry with a direct route to the Port of Melbourne and freeway.
“The previous Labor Government worked very hard to win support for the Truck Action Plan and allocated $40 million to commence the first of three stages of the truck bypass route.
Mr Noonan said the delays and silencing of independent bodies proved that the Baillieu Government would go to extraordinary lengths to kill off the Truck Action Plan.
“The Baillieu Government is clearly going to scrap the Truck Action Plan, so why don’t they just admit it,” Mr Noonan said.
“I’ll continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the community until Mr Baillieu delivers.”
