KEEP BIGGER TRUCKS OUT OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS
Make our villages, highway and roads safer: instead of bringing even bigger trucks to the Blue Mountains, put freight on rail.
The NSW government is hell-bent on turning our community into a truck-centric freeway with little consideration of the impacts that it will have on our villages, our safety or the environment.
For decades, construction has been underway on the Great Western Highway with the ambition of having a four lane carriageway connecting Penrith to Lithgow. The last part of this project is the ‘upgrade’ of the highway from Katoomba to Lithgow; it was recently announced that this would incorporate an 11km tunnel to bypass Blackheath and Mount Victoria.
There is currently a ban on B-double trucks larger than 19m on the Great Western Highway across the Blue Mountains. Once the highway ‘upgrade’ is complete, the NSW government will allow B-double trucks to travel through our community.
This means that large trucks designed for freeways and remote driving will thunder through our villages. They will drive through busy shopping centres, past schools, and add to congestion.
B-double trucks are not the only option for freight. The NSW Government must develop a strategy to expand freight rail in the State, and particularly through the Blue Mountains.
Rail freight is more reliable and faster, more cost effective, reduces CO2 emissions by up to 76% compared to road, contributes to improved air quality, keeps road safe, and supports regional growth.
Further, much of the current rail freight is coal; as coal is phased out the need for coal to be freighted on rail will decline and disappear, thereby increasing the capacity for alternative freight.
Will you sign our petition and urge the NSW government to stop bigger trucks from making their way through the Blue Mountains?
Dear Minister Toole,
We the undersigned demand that the NSW Government announce that B-double trucks larger than 19m will continue to remain banned from travelling on the Great Western Highway over the Blue Mountains.
Even with an upgraded highway, bigger trucks will significantly impact the safety of our community. We don’t want trucks thundering through busy shopping centres, past schools, and adding to congestion.
The NSW Government must develop a strategy to expand freight rail in the State, and particularly through the Blue Mountains.
Rail freight is more reliable and faster, more cost effective, reduces CO2 emissions by up to 76% compared to road, contributes to improved air quality, keeps road safe, and supports regional growth.
Yours sincerely,
Disclaimer: After signing this petition, you may be contacted by the Greens NSW.
“The NSW government is hellbent on turning our community into a truck-centric freeway — we must stop them bringing bigger trucks to the Blue Mountains that will endanger our community.”
– Dr Sarah Redshaw, Candidate for Ward 1, Blue Mountains City Council
