Getting trucks off local roads says Katie Hall and Melissa Horne

The following press release was found on Facebook and Instagram linking to a press release on the website of siting labor member for Footscray Katie Hall MP.

The Allan Labor Government has finalised a 42-year lease with the Port of Melbourne – a deal that will get more trucks off local roads across the west and inject millions into the economy.

Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne today announced the 29-hectare former Melbourne Market site will be leased to the Port of Melbourne until 2066.

The Port of Melbourne is Australia’s busiest container port, handling more than a third of Australia’s containerised trade.

Equivalent to more than 14 MCGs – the old Melbourne Market site has the potential to further increase the Port’s capacity by an additional one million twenty-foot containers annually, boosting trade and making Victoria’s supply chains more efficient and resilient.

Currently shipping companies store their containers at small sites across the west – the new site will mean companies can store their containers right next to the port helping minimise truck trips through suburbs in Melbourne’s inner west including Footscray, Yarraville, Tottenham, Brooklyn and Seddon.

The site will also better support truck drivers by providing a dedicated space for them to refuel and take a break.

This builds on the Labor Government’s $10.2 million in the Victorian Budget 24/25 for new camera technology to enforce our legislated 24/7 truck bans on roads in the inner west – taking 9,000 trucks off local roads when the West Gate Tunnel opens.

The lease is a further step to secure our supply chains and ensure Victoria remains Australia’s freight and logistics capital – our $36 billion freight sector employs 260,000 Victorians.

Much of the former Melbourne Markets site is currently being used to support the delivery of the West Gate Tunnel and other major transport infrastructure projects.

Quote attributable to Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne 

“This is a great deal for Victoria – we’re getting more trucks off local roads, increasing the amount of freight the Port of Melbourne can handle, boosting trade and the economy, while strengthening Victoria’s supply chains.”

This is the same minister Horne who over a week ago finally admitted Victoria’s roads were stuffed and in need of much maintenance due to the number of heavy vehicles using them and that this was good for the economy. Yes good of the economy. A review of the number of heavy vehicles on roads around Melbourne and the regional areas is contained in a review of why is Vicroads allowing such heavy vehicles onto our roads making them less safe and causing major damage to road surfaces.

The above is a long list of motherhood statements we have become accustomed to when it comes the complete mess freight policy is in Victoria. Let’s examine the statements.