4000-truck protest brings road charges inquiry

Traffic comes to a standstill in Dunedin's CBD yesterday morning when about 110 trucks clog the...
Traffic comes to a standstill in Dunedin's CBD yesterday morning when about 110 trucks clog the streets as drivers protest about increases to road user charges. Photo by Stephen Jaquiery.
Organisers hailed yesterday's nationwide protest by transport operators over increased road user charges as a "huge success", but warn they could do it again if they don't get their way.

Road Transport Forum chief executive Tony Friedlander said while it appeared the 4000-truck demonstration achieved its goal of forcing an inquiry into the way the Government calculated road user charges, more action by truckers could not be ruled out.

"This is the first time the sector has taken this kind of action and I hope we don't have to do it again. But you would have to have a pretty thick hide to be surprised if we did."

Mr Friedlander met Ministry of Transport secretary Wayne Donnelly yesterday to discuss convening a working party to examine the formula used by the Government to set road charges for heavy vehicles.

The "terms of reference" for the working party would be decided next week and further discussions would be held with transport minister Annette King when she returned from overseas on July 14, Mr Friedlander said.

The industry has two complaints: it says the charges were raised at the worst possible time because of soaring petrol prices, and it was not given notice.

Ms King yesterday said she also wanted transparency for road charges calculations.

"What I want to be sure of - and I am sure Mr Friedlander and his members want to be sure of - is that the formula for setting road user charges delivers that fairness," she said.

Prime Minister Helen Clark said yesterday it was important that truck operators paid their fair share, and other road users had been picking up the bulk of the cost of maintaining the transport system.

"We think what is happening is fair. They don't.

"There can be a working party to talk about how we move ahead from here," she said.

During yesterday's protest, more than 110 trucks converged on Dunedin's CBD about 8.30am; the trucks had dispersed by 9.15am.

Demonstration organiser Peter Sutherland, of Dunedin, said the trucks involved in the Southern protest came from Otago, Canterbury and central Southland.

Trucks ranged from 44-tonne trucks to small farm vehicles.

Drivers were briefed on demonstration protocol and "stuck to the plan", he said.

Many trucks displayed banners expressing anger at the increases in road user charges.

Police emergency response co-ordinator Inspector Alastair Dickie, of Dunedin, said it was "all hands to the pumps" for police as they coped with the clogged streets yesterday morning.

About 35 staff from stations in Dunedin and Mosgiel joined highway patrol staff and youth aid officers diverting traffic away from the main protest route to ensure roads were not blocked.

"We were very happy with the way it went, and had good co-operation from the drivers, who adhered to road rules," Insp Dickie said.

Otago Southland RTF representative Murray Maslin, of Southland, said 140 trucks gathered in Invercargill and 78 trucks were involved in another protest in Gore.

In Alexandra, 15 trucks from around Central Otago were driven through the town at 9am.

Organiser Craig Flowers said support for the initiative was widespread throughout Central Otago, although some companies were not able to participate in the protest. - Additional reporting NZPA

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