By Oliver Lees
Sunbury residents are voicing their concerns over growing noise pollution along Sunbury Road, with the West Gate Tunnel soil relocation project is expected to further increase congestion on the road.
Michelle Parsons first moved to her home near the intersection of Sunbury Road and Lancefield Road 11 years ago.
Ms Parsons said the issue of excessive noise has become worse over time and now it regularly interrupts her ability to enjoy the comfort of her home.
“It’s like night and day from when we moved in, it used to be a reasonably quiet area, but now you can’t even leave a window cracked open because of the noise,” she said.
“I’ve been woken up at 4.30 in the morning from the sound and often I can hear it over the top of the TV.”
In June, a decision was reached by Transurban to send toxic soil from the West Gate Tunnel Project to a purpose-built soil treatment facility at 570 Sunbury Road.
According to a report presented to a Hume council meeting in September, 2020, trucks would transport soil to Hi-Quality’s site 24-hours a day, seven days a week for 18 to 24 months.
The traffic assessment estimated this would equate to 36 truck movements per hour for the duration of the project.
A 2019 traffic survey presented to Hume council found that Sunbury Road was far in excess of the recommended daily capacity of a two-lane road.
“If that’s going to be a 24/7 thing, then there’ll be absolutely no reprieve for us even in the night time,” Ms Parsons said.
Sunbury resident and civil engineer Steve Bock said he would like to see signs installed on Sunbury Road encouraging drivers to limit the use of truck engine brakes, especially around the narrow Bulla Bridge.
“It’s just the sheer volume of the trucks and the expanding communities, it’s only going to get worse,” Mr Bock said.
“All we’re after at this stage is some sort of noise measurement because everyone is saying it’s too loud.”
As an arterial road, the maintenance of Sunbury Road is the responsibility of VicRoads.
A VicRoads spokesperson said the organisation was aware of concerns regarding heavy traffic along the road.
“The Victorian government is investing in a massive upgrade of Sunbury Road – adding new lanes between Bulla-Diggers Rest Road and Powlett Street,” the spokesperson said.
“We continue to work closely with Hi-Quality regarding possible routes to be used by trucks transporting soil from the West Gate Tunnel Project. The transportation route has not been finalised.”
