Lord mayoral candidate Arron Wood vows to push for heavy vehicles to be taken off City Rd

Lord mayoral candidate Arron Wood has promised to push to remove heavy vehicles from City Rd in the wake of a grisly cattle crash.

Lord mayoral candidate Arron Wood has promised to push for heavy vehicles to be taken off City Rd and rerouted through the Domain and Burnley tunnels in the wake of a tragic cattle crash in South Yarra.

Mr Wood has pledged, if elected to the city’s top job in October, to call on toll road operator Transurban and the Department of Transport and Planning to make the change to “improve the safety, amenity and overall liveability” of Southbank residents.

Dozens of trucks laden with cattle or sheep regularly use City Rd every week because the vehicles are banned from using the tunnels.

Lord mayoral candidate Arron Wood wants livestock trucks removed from City Rd, Southbank. Picture: Supplied

“City Rd is one of Melbourne’s busiest thoroughfares and the constant noise from heavy vehicles, such as cattle trucks, is a major concern for those living and working in the area,” Mr Wood said.

“By rerouting these trucks through the centre lane of Domain and Burnley tunnels, we can significantly reduce the noise and improve the overall amenity of Southbank.”

The policy comes five weeks after a dairy cattle truck slammed into a rail bridge on Alexandra Ave in South Yarra leading to a grisly scene where almost two dozen cows were either killed or humanly euthanised.

It is believed the driver drove down City Rd but missed the freeway turn-off at the Swan Street Bridge.

The Kenworth rig smashed into the 4m high bridge on Alexandra Ave soon after, wedging the trailer and cattle underneath.

The tragedy renewed calls for the better management of animals being transported across the city.

Cattle on the street after the truck crash in South Yarra. Picture: Farm Transparency Project

It is believed the driver drove down City Rd but missed the freeway turn-off at the Swan St Bridge. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Mr Wood said such incidents could be prevented by using the centre lane of the tunnels.

However, the ultimate decision lies with toll road operator Transurban, which operates CityLink.

The Herald Sun understands that Transurban has already been in discussions with the City of Melbourne, the Department of Transport and Planning and the livestock industry regarding this change for at least 12 months.

Calls for livestock trucks to be taken off City Rd date back to 2019 when councillor Nick Reece, now the Lord Mayor, called for their removal because of safety and hygiene concerns.

“What would a tourist to Melbourne think if cattle effluent spilt on them as they walked along City Road?’’ Mr Reece said at the time.

“Anyone who lives or works in Southbank knows, the smell, the noise, the manure and effluent on the road from cattle trucks, it’s a terrible advertisement for Melbourne.’’

But Mr Reece is yet to announce a policy concerning City Rd this election campaign.

Calls for livestock trucks to be taken off City Rd date back to 2019. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Livestock and Rural Transporter Association of Victoria (LRTAV) executive officer Alina Hawkins said it was “important” that authorities consider all their options when it comes to managing the transport of livestock.

“We need to review how we manage livestock around the city and (using CityLink) is definitely one of the considerations,” she said.

Victorian Transport Association Peter Anderson backed Mr Wood’s policy, saying it would make it easier for heavy vehicles to travel through the city.

Transurban was unable to respond by deadline.

Originally published as Lord mayoral candidate Arron Wood vows to push for heavy vehicles to be taken off City Rd