POLITICAL language that treats heavy vehicles as a problem is to be avoided, the Australian Logistics Council says.
The Victorian government’s new Better Freight Outcomes Fund is providing $1 million in grants for communities in Melbourne’s inner west, bankrolled via penalties from trucks that breach no-truck zones.
The announcement refers to neighbourhoods being “impacted by heavy vehicle traffic”, as well as the need to get trucks off local roads.
ALC managing director Hermione Parsons said communities should expect safer streets but the language around freight transport mattered.
“Trucks are not on the road for the sake of it,” Dr Parsons said.
“They are moving food, medicine, construction materials, retail goods and the products businesses need every day.
“The problem is not supply chain logistics and freight transport. The problem is poor planning, weak connections and infrastructure that has not kept pace with the task.”
The Victorian government acknowledges that Melbourne’s inner west is a critical part of Victoria’s freight network and has also mentioned the West Gate Tunnel, no-truck zones, freight rail and freight decarbonisation initiatives.
Dr Parsons said the ALC supported measures that kept inappropriate truck movements off local streets, but restrictions required practical alternatives.
“If governments want fewer trucks on local roads, they need to make sure the roads trucks are meant to use actually work.
“That means reliable freight corridors, protected access to the Port of Melbourne, better first and last mile connections, freight rail where it is practical, and sensible planning around logistics precincts.”
Dr Parsons said the debate needed to move beyond trucks versus communities.
“This should not be framed as a choice between liveable communities and efficient supply chain logistics and freight transport.
“Melbourne’s west is one of the most important logistics areas in the country. The job of government is to plan the network properly, so communities are protected, and goods keep moving.”
Dr Parsons said freight policy should start with the full end-to-end system, including roads, freight rail, ports, intermodal terminals, distribution centres and the first and last mile.
“If we keep treating individual parts of the network in isolation, we will keep shifting problems around rather than fixing them.
“Good freight policy looks at the whole system.”