Western Port Highway noise
Mr LIMBRICK (South Eastern Metropolitan) (17:35): (1776) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Transport Infrastructure and the Minister for Roads and Road Safety. A constituent has contacted my office with concerns about the increasing traffic noise coming from the Western Port Highway, which they have lived near for a decade. They are concerned that the vehicle and engine brake noise is getting progressively worse and say it will only become worse once the Dandenong South Intermodal Terminal is finalised, as this highway will become a main arterial road to the terminal. This resident has discussed the issue with his neighbours and they are all in agreement. They have requested that traffic noise walls be installed along the Western Port Highway between the Northey Road on-ramp and Thompsons Road, where there are residential dwellings. The residents acknowledge that this will take some time and they are eager for the process to begin as soon as possible in the hope that works might be completed before the new intermodal terminal is operating, estimated to be in 2023. For the wellbeing of the residents, will the minister consider immediately implementing a ban on the use of engine brakes in the area and begin the work to assess if traffic noise walls will be an effective long-term solution along the Western Port Highway?