News

Slam heavier truck bid

RESIDENTS are hoping Cumberland Councillors reject a request to let heavier trucks use six local roads in Auburn, South Granville and Regents Park at tomorrow night’s council meeting.

The Linfox Transport Group has requested consideration of a 12-month trial of access for heavy vehicles under Higher Mass Limits (HML) through the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.
A report from the council’s director of Works and Infrastructure last month, recommended proceeding with the trial on sections of Amy Street; Rawson Road; Clyde Street; Wellington Road; Chisholm Road; and Princess Road East, as well as allowing access across the Amy Street Railway Overbridge, subject to a satisfactory assessment of the bridge.
However it recommended rejecting access to Rawson Street, Auburn (between Highgate Street and South Parade); South Parade (between Rawson Street and Park Road); and Park Road (between South Parade and Commercial Drive).
Speaking against the proposal, Auburn resident Tony Oldfield told councillors many people thought it was “madness considering the daily congestion on Amy Street” which already turned the area into a “car park at peak times”.
“Will this proposal reduce traffic on our major council roads? No, it will add to what is already an unsustainable problem,” he said.
“Even worse, it will cost residents with increased damage and strain on our residential streets.”
While councillors opted to defer a final decision until after a comprehensive briefing, Cr George Campbell said he would be opposing the move, noting that Amy Street already had “more traffic than it can reasonably accommodate”.
“Allowing even larger or heavier vehicles would have a further detrimental effect on residents’ quality of life,” he said.