By Martin Wurt
President of the Maribyrnong Truck Action Group
As we head towards November’s State election, it is time to reflect not only on the past four years, but on the 20 years since Maribyrnong Truck Action Group (MTAG) was founded.
During that time, we have seen seven premiers, 10 environment ministers, and countless revolving faces across government departments.
Gaining traction is difficult, but MTAG has remained focused on one goal: achieving a real reduction in the impact that millions of trucks have on our community.
This election will be MTAG’s 7th and for the first time, most residential streets in the City of Maribyrnong are now truck free, with one main exception, Williamstown Road.
The opening of the West Gate Tunnel (WGT) was a game changer for how freight moves through the inner west. We now have 24/7 truck bans on seven major roads, delivering an enormous improvement for residents and road users. Trucks are finally using a purpose-built freeway to service the Port of Melbourne’s ever-increasing freight needs, ending decades of environmental injustice for thousands of residents.
So, is the Victorian Government’s job, and that of MTAG, done?
We wish it were, but the reality is very different. Much more must be done to bring our city anywhere near international best practice for moving freight through a major city.
While the WGT has removed trucks from most residential streets, it has not reduced diesel pollution; it has just moved the problem elsewhere.
An alarming Deakin University study released in May found that asthma-related hospital emergency visits are 50% higher for children in the inner west compared to the Victorian average. Research from the University of Melbourne also estimated that excess childhood asthma attributable to trucks in the City of Maribyrnong costs taxpayers up to $10 million every year.
Regardless of who wins office in November, MTAG expects the Victorian Government to tackle these appalling health statistics with real and measurable action.
Childhood asthma is not the only concern. Our community also experiences rates of stroke, heart disease, lung cancer and respiratory disease above the Australian average. This is particularly concerning given Maribyrnong’s relatively low-risk demographics, including low smoking and obesity rates, and a younger-than-average population. We should not be experiencing these levels of disease.
MTAG’s 2026 Election Wish List contains three actions that could deliver genuine, long-term reduction in truck-related diesel pollution: filtration on the WGT exhaust stacks, improvements for Williamstown Road, and measures to modernise our ageing truck fleet.
Filtration on the WGT ventilation stacks could reduce pollution emitted by up to 90%, at an estimated cost of approximately $60 million — less than 0.6% of the project’s total cost of $10.2 billion.
MTAG commissioned a report by Synergetics in 2025 that highlighted major design flaws that can cause pollution to be pushed down to ground levels. It’s not too late for filtration as the stacks were designed to allow retrofitting of filtration.
Tunnel exhaust filtration is already standard practice in 15 countries. What is needed here is political will and an Environment Protection Authority (EPA) willing to support proven measures to reduce pollution.
The Williamstown Road community are the biggest losers from the WGT. Rather than a reduction, government forecasts predict a doubling of trucks between Francis Street and Geelong Road by 2031.
This is an extraordinary failure for a project purported to remove trucks from local roads.
Children will continue to be exposed to high levels of truck pollution at Yarraville West Primary School, as will those who participate in outdoor sport at Yarraville Oval and who use the Yarraville skate park tennis courts.
Williamstown Road needs a 24/7 truck ban. The existing night and weekend curfew is a step in the right direction, but the EPA knows that curfews do not reduce overall pollution; its 2013 air monitoring on Francis Street confirmed this.
Finally, Australia needs to address its ageing truck fleet. According to the Truck Industry Council our median heavy truck age is around 15 years, with many vehicles exceeding 25 years.
We continue using old trucks that have been banned from European and American ports for close to 20 years. Previous government initiatives to remove the oldest, most polluting trucks have failed dismally. We need effective policies that accelerate retirement of these vehicles and encourage cleaner alternatives.
These three initiatives would make a significant difference to air quality and health outcomes across Melbourne’s inner west.
This November provides an opportunity to address that injustice. In the lead up to the election, MTAG will analyse the different parties’ policies to help you make an informed decision at the ballot box.
Keep informed through the MTAG Facebook page.
