TIME is up for City of Maribyrnong residents to make their voices heard on Sir Rod Eddington’s East West Link Needs Assessment report.

Maribyrnong City Council sent its submission last Tuesday after amending an initial decision to support an 18km east-west road link.

The council said it could not support the recommended road options due to the lack of information provided in the report, and the possible impact of the routes.

Mayor Michelle MacDonald said although the report threw a big spotlight on the City of Maribyrnong, it had not really captured residents’ imagination.

“I have to say, I am astonished I am talking to an empty chamber,” she said.

“When it comes down to issues about road connections and supposed tunnels and they can’t tell you where it’s going to be, whose houses are going to be compulsorily acquired, all that does is create angst in the community.”

“Rather than the Eddington report being a document of hope …it could be incredibly divisive.”

The Maribyrnong Truck Action Group (MTAG) was one of the last groups in the municipality to submit its thoughts before the 15 July deadline.

The group has identified the proposed widening of Ballarat Rd and Ashley St as a blight on Sir Rod’s Eddington’s Truck Action Plan – and its’ not alone.

MTAG secretary Martin Wurt lauded the plan, but said the proposed widening would not be beneficial to residents.

“The one thing that MTAG doesn’t want to see is any shifting of the problem to any other communities or neighbourhoods ,and that’s why we are opposed to the upgrade of Ballarat Rd and Ashley St,” he said.

MTAG only offered comments on recommendations related to freight or freight movements in its submission.

Maidstone resident Claudine Spinner, who circulated a petition around the municipality with West Footscray resident and former mayor Sara Coward, estimate the petition had about 300 signatories when it was sent.

Ms Spinner said the widening of the two streets would only shift the truck problem from Yarraville to Braybrook.

“It’s environmental damage, and people would lose their homes on Ballarat Rd,” she said.

“To make it a major truck route would make it so detrimental to that whole residential area. It’s just appalling.”

Under Sir Rod’s recommendations, the plan would link the West Gate Freeway to the Port of Melbourne via Hyde St.

There would also be a new and upgraded north-south freight route along Paramount Rd and Ashley St.

This route would link Geelong Rd, Sunshine Rd and the Ballarat Rd in a bid to relieve heavy freight traffic travelling to and from the Port of Melbourne.

The widening was proposed to facilitate this plan.

Saltwater Ward councillor Janet Rice also voiced her disapproval about the upgrade in her personal submission.