MEDIA RELEASE
13 December 2004

The heavy issue of freight to be discussed

Auckland City’s Transport and Urban Linkages Committee agreed to monitor the number of heavy vehicles using Orakei, Ngapipi, Kepa and Kohimarama roads on Friday.

The recent move to ban heavy vehicles turning left and right at Solent Street and Tamaki Drive during the night has been a success says Councillor Richard Simpson, chairperson of the Transport and Urban Linkages Committee.

“The bylaw change has brought immediate relief for residents on Orakei Road and Ports of Auckland have told us the changes haven’t impacted negatively on trucks moving goods to and from the port.

“The next step to better managing freight across the city is to establish a freight forum. The forum will facilitate communication between the freight industry, Auckland City and the community,” says Mr Simpson.

The forum is designed so the freight industry has the opportunity to present concerns, ideas and preferred options to the council.

“It’s not about just doing what the freight industry wants. We need to allow people living in suburbs dignity with safe streets and freedom from traffic noise while recognising the economic benefits of freight for the city and region, “ says Mr Simpson.

“We all recognise the importance of freight, from delivering milk and courier packages to cars being delivered around the country. The aim of the freight forum is to come up with viable solutions that reduce the nuisance value of freight on neighbourhoods while helping keep Auckland’s goods moving efficiently,” says Mr Simpson.
The first freight forum is planned before the end of March 2005.

Ends
Notes to editors:
- The freight forum meets one of the objectives outlined in Auckland City’s freight strategy published in 2003.
- An initial meeting between the freight industry and Auckland City was held on Tuesday, 19 October 2004. The meeting was an establishment workshop to gauge interest in holding a forum and discuss options for the structure of the forum.
- A vehicle weighting 3500kg or over is classed as a heavy vehicle.

ENDS

© Scoop Media