North East Link impacts and truck ban

Banyule's Ready for advicacy on truck bans

What we are seeking

  • A review of truck routes on existing arterial roads between the M80 and the Eastern Freeway.
  • Extension of the existing northeast truck restrictions to a 24-hour ban, including on roads such as Rosanna Road, Greensborough Road and Lower Plenty Road.
  • Installation of technology to enforce the ban.
  • Management of the ongoing impacts and disruption from the project, and improvements to surrounding areas through tree planting.

Overview

  • The current northeast truck restrictions apply to vehicles over 16.5 tonnes and operate between 10pm and 6am.
  • During the day, however, high levels of noise, dust and pollution, along with 129 reported crashes over five years, consistently create community concern.
  • Our community has been calling for a truck ban on local roads for decades, including on Rosanna Road, Lower Plenty Road and Greensborough Road.
  • Once the North East Link opens in 2028, most trucks and other heavy vehicles will have an efficient alternative to using local roads.
  • At this point, we consider it reasonable to expect heavy vehicles to stop using local roads for the movement of freight.
  • This position is supported by our neighbours, the Shire of Nillumbik and the City of Manningham.
  • Our submission to the North East Link Environmental Effects Statement process requested that the existing truck restrictions be extended to 24 hours.
  • The Minister’s assessment report agreed to review non-local truck movements after the completion of the project.

What it will deliver

  • Existing overnight truck restrictions extended to a 24-hour ban on local roads.
  • Exemptions for local delivery trucks and vehicles that cannot use the tunnels (for example, over-dimensional vehicles and placarded loads).
  • Installation of enforcement technology, such as cameras. This will provide the freight industry with a consistent approach, aligning with restrictions recently introduced in the western suburbs.
  • Planting and maintenance of two trees for every advanced tree removed for the construction of the North East Link.

Affected roads

  • Waterdale Road (between Bell Street and Kingsbury Drive)
  • Waiora Road (between Bell Street and Kingsbury Drive)
  • Rosanna Road (between Banksia Street and Lower Plenty Road)
  • Lower Plenty Road (between Waiora Road and Fitzsimons Lane)
  • Greensborough Highway (between Grimshaw Street and Lower Plenty Road)
  • Para Road (between Diamond Creek Road and Main Road, Lower Plenty)
  • St Helena Road, Karingal Drive and Bolton Street
  • Ryans Road, Wattletree Road and Main Road (between Diamond Creek Road and Fitzsimons Lane)

What you can do

You can contact a member of Parliament to raise concern and ask for action on this issue.

Lower House

Upper House

Shadow ministers

Shadow ministers are elected members of the Opposition who may become ministers if there is a change of government. Let them know if this issue matters to you.

2026 state election candidates

If this issue is important to you, tell local candidates in the lead-up to the state election.

Why now?
The North East Link will open in 2028, so preparations for new truck restrictions need to commence now.

Location

Focus on Watsonia, Across Banyule, Watsonia 3087  View Map

Google Map

Priority at a glance

Officer

Advocacy Team
9490 4222
advocacy@banyule.vic.gov.au
Priority: Delivering on Watsonia commitments

Electorate: All of Banyule

Key focus

Accessibility, local economy, neighbourhood character, safety, sustainability

Recent updates

  • Met with Federal Member for Jaga Jaga, Kate Thwaites in May following the Federal Government’s announcement of $3.5 billion for North East Link.
  • Co-ordinated onsite meeting with Senior Executives from North East Link in April to discuss the Tree Canopy Replacement Program that NELP is responsible for delivering. The meeting identified sites where NELP had provided best practice tree planting and sites where their replacement trees had already died within the first year.
  • Council advised NELP it has identified more than 12,000 locations where amenity trees could be planted in our municipality so there is no need for any replacement trees to be planted outside our municipality.
  • Council proposed to plant the replacement trees (and maintain them) on behalf of NELP for what we believe is just 29 per cent of what it would cost them.
  • Met with Federal Senator, the Hon Jane Hume and outlined the importance of a better design of North East Link for local residents.
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