By NOEL MURPHY
TRUCKING noise problems at Lara appear set to be eased with the relocation of Rocke Brothers’ operations to an industrial estate at Corio.
Hundreds of trucks have been travelling into Josie’s Transport depot around the clock since the company sold off part of the 1.5-hectare site to waterfront transport specialist Rocke Brothers.
Late last year residents complained to the Independent of “maddening” noise from constant banging, crashing, crunching and revving through the night.
A permit allowing container trucks on the site has been in place since 1994 but neighbouring residents said the situation was becoming unacceptable with more than 30 trucks an hour in the day and up to 110 at night between 9pm and 2am.
City Hall sources this week suggested the transport operator was likely to soon move into the Heales Rd industrial precinct at Corio, removing the ongoing noise problems.
Residents asked City of Greater Geelong to cut McClelland Ave’s 80km/h speed limit to 60km/h, fearing trucks could collide in poor traffic conditions. They cited slush, mud and dust from the trucks – plus financial loss trying to double-glaze windows against the noise – as additional problems from the trucks.
Rocke Bros management told the Independent late last year it was looking at numerous alternative sites and planned to move elsewhere. This week it was unable to “confirm or deny” a move to the Corio estate.
