Livestock trucks to be removed from City Rd under 12-month trial

Lord Mayor Nick Reece has led a landmark reform for Southbank after Transurban, the Victorian Government and the City of Melbourne reached an agreement that will see livestock carriers returned to the Burnley and Domain tunnels.

Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne told Southbank News exclusively on September 2 that the government would work with the freight industry and road managers as part of a 12-month trial to take livestock vehicles off City Rd.

Representing a major win for the Southbank community, which has long campaigned for larger trucks to be diverted through the freeway tunnels, the trial will mean livestock vehicles no longer need to use City Rd, Power St, Olympic Blvd and Hoddle St.

It’s estimated that around 1500 heavy trucks use City Rd each day and while the changes only affect livestock carriers, the Lord Mayor said it would equate to a “substantial reduction” and “safer and cleaner streets for Southbank residents”.

Livestock vehicles have previously been banned from travelling through the tunnels due to the risks posed by overhead infrastructure, including signage, gantries and underground services.

However, with much of that infrastructure now raised to a safe height of 4.9 metres, clearance between the top of the trucks and the tunnel roof is now sufficient for large vehicles (no higher than 4.65 metres) to travel through without impedance, ensuring the safety of animals being transported.

Lord Mayor Nick Reece, who has led negotiations with all relevant stakeholders over recent years to get this change over the line, said “this is a win for common sense, and a win for the community in Southbank”.

“This result has been years in the making, and I could not be more delighted. Livestock trucks do not belong on local roads,” Cr Reece said.

“Safety on our roads is the highest priority and this change will help alleviate the safety risks at some of the most dangerous intersections in Melbourne.”

“It is also a win for the transport industry as the route will improve route efficiency, and ensure livestock are able to be transported in a safe and healthy manner.”

The Lord Mayor said the result had been “a team effort”, and thanked everyone involved, including Transurban, the Department of Transport and Planning, Minister Horne, Victorian Transport Association, Livestock & Rural Transporters Association, Southbank Residents’ Association (SRA) and Southbank 3006.

“The City of Melbourne has been advocating for safety improvements as part of our City Road Master Plan for years – and we’re proud to help deliver the trial alongside the Victorian Government and Transurban,” Cr Reece said.

Tony Penna, president of SRA, which has been “campaigning tirelessly” on the issue of heavy trucks on City Rd and Power St for many years, said, “this is a massive win for the Southbank community.”

“While this is only the livestock trucks it is certainly a great start, but more still needs to be done,” Mr Penna said.

“We thank Lord Mayor Nick Reece for all his efforts over the last couple of years. We will continue to work with him to try to enact further changes.”

“SRA first brought the issue of trucks on City Rd and Power St to his attention when he was the Deputy Lord Mayor, in April 2021. Sadly, only a few weeks later we saw five pedestrians get seriously injured by a truck which mounted the footpath.”

“Significant changes have been made to the intersection since that time, but we have always maintained that trucks need to be removed from these roads to make our neighbourhood safer.”

The Department of Transport and Planning completed a $3.8 million overhaul of the dangerous City Rd-Power St intersection in May last year after a truck hit and injured five people in a horrific incident in May 2021, prompting a community outcry.

The works, which began in October last year, have seen the footpath widened and a pedestrian crossing relocated from the corner where vehicles turn left onto Power St to create more space between pedestrians and vehicles.

Large trucks also have a wider path to navigate the left turn from City Rd onto Power St.

While also commending the council for its role in working with the state government to fix the issue of livestock trucks, Southbank3006 president said the group hoped it would prove a catalyst for other heavy vehicles to be taken off local roads.

“The movement of cattle and other livestock trucks is a very welcome first step to improving road safety in our neighbourhood,” Mr Hamilton said.

“Hopefully other heavy goods vehicles can be reintegrated back into Citylink tunnels soon as well. Then both Power St and City Rd will become safer for all road users, particularly pedestrians.”

The government said to “help make the trip easier to navigate for drivers”, additional improved signage and road line-marking would be installed on arterial feeder roads to make it easier for livestock truck drivers to navigate busy metropolitan freeways.

It’s understood that the new trial will commence in the coming months once information campaigns are established for drivers, and that livestock trucks will be encouraged to use the middle lanes in both the Burnley and Domain tunnels.

“Maintaining and investing in our freight network is essential to ensure the movement of freight and creation of jobs across all parts of the economy,” Minister Horne said.

“We’re working with industry and road managers to ensure that livestock can travel as safely and simply through the city.”

Transurban Group Executive Australian Markets Nicole Green said road safety was “paramount”.

“We’ve been making changes to our tunnel infrastructure in recent years and this, coupled with modernisation of vehicles transporting livestock, has made using the tunnels a viable option,” Ms Green said.

We are pleased to have partnered with the transport industry and local and state government to enable this trial, ensuring safer, more efficient journeys for all motorists and animals being transported.

“We’ve been working collaboratively with the state government and Transurban for some months now about better managing livestock around the city of Melbourne and we’re supportive of making some changes to better utilise other networks,” CEO of Livestock & Rural Transporters Association Alina Hawkins said.

On August 30, Cr Reece’s main rival at the upcoming council elections in former Deputy Lord Mayor Arron Wood pledged that, if elected, he would also work with the state government in line with its Victorian Freight Plan to explore ways of getting more heavy trucks off local roads in Southbank.

“Residents and business owners in the City of Melbourne deserve a forward-thinking approach to transport, one that prioritises public safety, amenity and animal welfare,” Mr Wood said.

“Where possible, rail reduces emissions and is a safer option that should be part of our long-term strategy while still meeting the needs of freight customers.” •