EX-MAYOR NEEDS TO BACK RYRIE STREET CURFEW

THREE-time CoGG mayor Bruce Harwood is best placed to champion solutions to the Ryrie Street truck indictment (GA, 27/2).

As it stands the issue highlights the fact that local state MPs and advocacy groups haven’t railed with unity and clout. Given the fact that the problem passes the front door of what was until recently the offices of the Geelong Advertiser; the paper’s lack of sustained campaigning has also contributed to this malaise and inaction.

Once again the Department of Transport for the umpteenth time trots out the working with stakeholders waffle and now Regional Roads Victoria has come up with an incredulous statistic that 72 per cent of the 2500 daily heavy vehicles using Ryrie Street have a CBD destination.

Cr Harwood, given his municipal, police and business CV, has been around varied blocks multiple times. His current overview while diplomatic needs to find a tough edge. Being played for suckers by Melbourne-based departments isn’t where the community wants to remain.

Cr Harwood should be pushing for a 7am-7pm CBD curfew for all but white van deliveries and for heavy vehicles to use with modifications, Fyans and Carr streets.

Richard Worland, Manifold Heights

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