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

Darebin City Council submission to NTC on modular B-triple freight reform - September 2011

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Page 1: Darebin City Council submission to NTC on modular B-triple freight reform - September 2011

September 2011Darebin City CouncilSubmission 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