1. September 2011
Darebin City Council
Submission to NTC on modular B-triple freight reform
City of Darebin is an inner urban municipality situated 5 kilometres north of
Melbourne CBD. Its area of 53 square kilometres has approximately 140,000
inhabitants and is well covered by a road network including major arterial corridors.
Officers at Darebin City Council are aware of benefits of putting more freight on
fewer vehicles and agree with the concept of cartage of goods by B-triple vehicles
along suitable and approved regional freight corridors. One inter state national road
network that is B-triple compliant and provides essential access to major freight
processing centres is strongly supported.
Such network to be part of a PBS based hierarchy of roads that has been assessed to
be used ‘as of right’ by appropriate categories of vehicles to streamline freight
operations and minimise administrative task.
Well defined road hierarchy, along with developments in ‘smart’ freight vehicle
technology and intelligent monitoring systems are seen as the key elements in
improving freight industry’s and stakeholders’ confidence in the system and
maximising benefits to the community, the national economy and road safety.
However, City of Darebin has concerns about the potential impact of freight on
residential amenity and is unlikely to allow B-triples to use our local roads without a
comprehensive assessment that demonstrates a positive outcome. Such an assessment
should be a detailed triple bottom analysis and also identify funding for road
strengthening, modifications or improvements.
Implementation of any freight programs in local areas would ideally be preceded by
adequate community information campaigns. Despite the Synovite 2010 findings,
Council experience shows that popularity of large freight vehicles within the local
community is low. Council would therefore welcome assistance in promoting
community awareness about modular B-triples and other HPV’s and freight issues in
general.
Overall, the B-triple freight proposal is a positive incentive towards efficiency
increase and streamlining the freight task and is most welcome. The paper is
informative and thorough and is supported. However the part on impacts on pavement
could be expanded. The role of community perceptions and consultation should not be
underestimated.
Prepared: W. Cichocki