DAYLESFORD residents say they feel betrayed by councillors who voted at their August meeting in favour of a second B-double permit for Stanbridge Street.
Earlier this year, more than 40 residents signed a petition calling for a permit issued by council officers to be revoked.
In response to the petition, the April council meeting committed to issuing no further permits pending development - in close consultation with the community - of a comprehensive regional freight strategy.
Stanbridge Street resident Tony Olthof said council commitments and assurances apparently had been jettisoned.
"It seems we have been deliberately ambushed and presented with an outcome that fails to have regard for broader ramifications and other options,'' Mr Olthof said.
Mr Olthof said individual councillors had previously expressed support for the option of a permanent heavy vehicle and B-double route along the East Street boundary of the industrial zone to the Midland Highway.
"However, we now suspect that the real, but so far unadmitted, intention is to treat the second B-double permit as another staging post on the way to making Stanbridge Street into a permanent heavy vehicle and B-double route,'' he said.
"Such outcome would have major adverse repercussions for residents and others in the Daylesford community and will surely attract vigorous and sustained opposition.''
Mayor Janine Booth said Hepburn Shire Council has committed to developing a freight strategy across the Hepburn Shire to help respond to the changing and future transport needs of the community, local industry, farmers, visitors and external road users.
The council is calling for expressions of interests from community members to form a steering committee to oversee the development of the strategy.
Cr Booth said recent issues relating to truck movements in Stanbridge Street, Daylesford highlighted the need to move more broadly and proactively on the question of freight movements from a shire-wide perspective.
"We have sought to balance the needs of local business and residents by introducing a 16-tonne load limit along Stanbridge Street between East Street and Vincent Street, and using a permit system to restrict the hours in which B-doubles can use the road, ''Cr Booth said.
"The freight study will include cases like Stanbridge Street so that we gain a better understanding of why certain local routes are being used instead of designated VicRoads main roads, and allow us to explore long term network-wide options."
The closing date for expressions of interest is Friday, September 24.
For information, go to hepburnshire.com.au or visit Council's offices at Creswick, Daylesford Town Hall and Duke Street.
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