Plans to curb trucks sizes

THE Shire of Yarra Ranges will look at placing load and height limits on Macclesfield Road, Yellingbo.
The move is aimed at reducing use by larger vehicles to protect roadside vegetation.
Cr Noel Cliff succeeded at last week’s council meeting in reversing a previous motion which would have seen a number of trees removed between Swales Road and Beenak Road.
Construction of the road in 2001 has resulted in increased traffic and concern by residents that trees or branches encroaching onto the roadway cause large vehicles to deviate onto the wrong side of the road.
There was also concern about damage to vehicles from overhanging branches.
Councillors were advised when considering the issue in December that any decision would need to have regard to statutory obligations involving road safety and the environment as well as the environmental needs of the endangered helmeted honeyeater and Leadbeater’s possum located in nearby Yellingbo Reserve.
Cr Cliff said it was time the council lived up to its reputation as a green council.
“We are just knocking trees over, trees which have an effect on the lives of future kids and grandkids.
“This is the sort of stuff that’s turning our planet into a bloody nightmare and we have to stop it,” he said.
Cr Cliff said the increasing size of vehicles being permitted by the State Government to use the road network didn’t take into account the effect on the environment.
“I’m not interested in Joe Bloggs who wants a big truck – he can buy three smaller trucks,” he said.
“This will send a message to anyone who wants to bring in big trucks and big horse-floats… don’t think they can bring suburban ways up here and want to change things.
“They have to start living in the environment they have here.”
Cr Cliff said he envisaged using load limits instead of cutting down trees would be used as a yardstick for other roads in the shire and was one he said other shires would adopt.
Cr Samantha Dunn supported the motion which she said could well become a test case – a reference to the Road Management Act which came into effect in 2005 and places greater obligations on councils to rectify road safety hazards.
“I think it is incumbent on us that we do as much as we can for the environment (but) we also need to be concerned with the safety of kids and people in vehicles,” she said.
“I think we are the council to see it through with VicRoads,” she said.
The motion calls for a report to be prepared on options for the installation of load/height limits.