By NOEL MURPHY
HEAVY trucks lugging shipping containers through household streets night and day have Lara residents up in arms.
Hundreds of trucks have been travelling into the Josie’s Transport depot around the clock since the company sold off part of the 1.5Ha site to waterfront transport specialist Rocke Brothers.
“The noise is so loud it’s maddening,” nearby resident Leanne Hinge told the Independent.
“It’s constant banging, crashing, crunching and revving through the night. And then they drop the containers.
“We’d like to know why they’ve been allowed to expand their operations without consulting with the neighbours.”
Resident George Tolongos said Lara had successfully rejected plans for a giant transport hub only to have hundreds of trucks arriving daily without residents having a say.
“The council has just let them go ahead without even telling us,” he said.
Another resident, Dennis Higgins, questioned why such heavy haulage was allowed on land zoned light industrial.
Ward councillor Tony Ansett said Rocke Bros had a permit from 1994 allowing for container trucks.
Cr Ansett said he was trying to work with residents and council to overcome the problems.
Rocke Brothers Lara manager John Gulino said the operations were legitimate.
“This company has been going for some time. We bought it from Josie’s, most of the staff are ex-Josie’s,” he said.
“Yes, we’ve gotten busier but it’s the transport business; you have quiet times too but you make hay while the sun shines.
“We’re looking to move to a new site. We’ve been looking at numerous sites, looking at rental sites, but there’s no quick fix.
“We’ve been in talks with the council and looking at new sites with it and, yes, we plan on moving but it’s not that easy. There could be new rules and new sites but, yes, we’re working with the council and, yes, we’re planning to move.
“You can only imagine the calls I’ve been getting.”
Ms Hinge said in the meantime she was counting more than 30 trucks an hour and up to 110 between 9pm and 2am.
She cited slush, mud and dust from the trucks, plus financial loss trying to glaze windows against the racket, as additional problems for residents.
“Nothing stops the noise. We’ve been told they might move, that they’re looking for a new site in Heales Rd, but there’s no indication of that happening soon.”
Residents have asked City Hall to cut the speed limit from 80 to 60km/h along McClelland Ave, fearing trucks could collide with cars in adverse traffic conditions.
