MELBOURNE – AUSTRALIA – Voices have been raised in the State of Victoria lately as residents wait anxiously for some sign that truck numbers transiting to and from the coast are reducing.
The Governments original target, now supposedly abandoned, of 30% of all cargo to be carried by rail seems unrealistic. At the moment it is estimated that the figure is closer to 2%. The inception of the incredibly extensive Victoria Transport Plan is seen by many locals as long on promises but short on achievements.
Three multi modal exchange depots are promised to enable the interchange from rail to road but these schemes have been laid out in the past by previous ministers with no concrete results. Victorian citizens want to see the ambitious passenger transport elements of the plans fulfilled, but most are keener that they witness a return to trade 30 or more years ago when, for example, 50 % or more of freight between Melbourne and Sydney travelled via the railway.
One of the elements which has stirred up the debate is the published figures for truck accidents. Last year in the state nearly fifty people died as a direct result of these incidents, one fifth of the national total, now locals want the carnage to stop. Led by such protest groups as the Maribyrnong Truck Action Group the complaints are now at a level where the government is forced to sing the praises of larger trucks, stating that they will be safer in the long term and, according to Transport Minister Tim Pallas, “Not intimidating”. At 30 metres and carrying 77 tonnes many readers will find such a statement more than a little incongruous.
Another part of the plan involves charging for road use in the form of truck tolls. Despite much debate there is no sign of this becoming a reality in the near future and critics such as the Metropolitan Transport Forum say the government are more concerned with placating the truck lobby than forcing a switch to rail freight.
The transport problems of the State will not be resolved overnight. Shadow Transport Minister Terry Mulder has this week obtained his heavy rigid truck licence and admits it has opened his eyes to both sides of the problem. Unless action is taken forthwith however the chilling Government predictions for truck movements, from the present 600,000 or so today to over 1,100,000 by 2030 may cause social problems on an unprecedented scale.
Pic: Courtesy of Bidgee http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Bidgee
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