Since becoming Mayor, I’ve been dealing with the issue of illegal trucks parking on roads, which is an issue that has been having an impact on our local streets.
Council is aware that many residents need trucks to earn their living and we understand that this is an important part of their livelihoods.
However, Council has been concerned about the impacts of large trucks (that is, trucks five tonnes and over) on local roads, in particular when they stay more than one hour or when our local streets are used as transport depots by large companies.
Over the past month, Council has started targeting those large trucks that do not comply with the law, with the aim to enforce (as much as possible) the safety of our streets so our local neighbourhoods are not impacted by noise.
In the past two months Council Rangers have been working day and night monitoring almost 600km of roads in our LGA and have issued almost 600 infringement notices to those parked illegally.
We want to encourage truck owners to continue with their livelihoods, but in a manner that limits the impacts on our community.
There are many locations across our City where truck owners can leave their trucks without affecting residents, including industrial zones. Council also has a truck stop facility at Victoria Street in Wetherill Park that offers many amenities required by truck drivers.
I encourage truck drivers to use this authorised heavy vehicle parking area between 6pm-6am Monday to Friday, and all day Saturday, Sunday and public holidays.
We want truck owners and drivers to work hard to continue with their livelihood and to play an important part in the Fairfield economy, but I urge them to consider the impact on, and the safety of, the local community.
