Call to rid City Rd of livestock trucks and animal effluent

City Rd, you’re effluent. A Melbourne councillor has called for trucks carrying livestock to be banned from Southbank’s main road because of safety and hygiene concerns.

1430 heavy vehicles use City Rd, Southbank daily. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Trucks carrying livestock should be banned from Southbank’s main road because of safety and hygiene concerns, a Melbourne councillor has said.

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

But Cr Nick Reece said Southbank was a busy business, residential and tourist centre so animal-laden heavy vehicles, including B-doubles, were not suitable.

Heavy vehicles transporting livestock along City Rd. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Melbourne Councillor Nick Reece.

“What would a tourist to Melbourne think if cattle effluent spilled on them as they walked along City Road?’’ he told a Yarra River Business Association lunch.

“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.

“Some people might say, this is just inner-city folk not wanting to see where their dinner comes from.’’

But he said it was a genuine problem for Australian’s mostly densely populated suburb.

Southbank Residents Association president Tony Penna said the issue was a concern for people living in the area.

“We certainly endorse Cr Reece’s sentiments and would dearly love to one day see a solution,’’ Mr Penna said.

Placarded loads — trucks carrying dangerous liquids such as petrol — were also unacceptable, he said.

But Peter Anderson of the Victorian Transport Association described Cr Reece’s comments as the council’s “latest thought bubble’’ to restrict heavy vehicle movements

“This time banning trucks transporting livestock on City Rd — is a further example of their insular approach to transport and the safe and efficient movement of goods around and through our city.’’

1430 heavy vehicles use City Rd, Southbank daily.

Livestock trucks avoid the CityLink tunnels.

Mr Anderson said Cr Reece’s call contradicted VicRoads’ livestock transport advice and showed a disregard for animal welfare.

Transurban and the industry agreed that trucks should bypass the CityLink tunnels when carting livestock on the top deck, he said

“There have been documented cases of animals getting injured or worse in the CityLink tunnels after rearing and striking overhead signage.

“The reason truck drivers are advised not to use the tunnels when transporting livestock is that we don’t want to see TV and social media pictures of animals getting injured or decapitated, and the associated impact creating a hazard for other road users in the tunnels.’’

City Rd has been an approved oversized agricultural vehicle route since CityLink opened in 2000.

An average of 22,650 vehicles, including 1430 heavy vehicles travel down City Rd, Southbank daily.

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The council is planning a makeover of City Rd in coming years, including a tree-line median strip, separate bike lanes and extra traffic lights.

A Transport Department spokeswoman said heavy vehicles were vital to keep Victoria’s economy moving and to link our state.

“Many heavy vehicles travelling on CityLink are required to turn off at City Road, Southbank due to the height of their vehicles,’’ the spokeswoman said.

Yarra Business Association president John Forman said Southbank had changed considerably and had become a residential, business and tourism hub.

“It is not acceptable to have livestock trucks commuting through the heart of Southbank via City Rd.

“Surely there is a better transport solution to get the large B-double livestock trucks off City Rd.”

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@IanRoyall