Newcastle residents objects to grain trucks in their streets

<p>Newcastle residents have voiced their concerns over the impending grain transportation crisis, the <em>ABC</em> reported yesterday (Tuesday, April 1).</p> <p>The residents are worried that if a solution is not brokered between the rail operator, Pacific National, and grain handlers, then their residential areas will be inundated with trucks.</p> <p>Farmers have predicted a bumper wheat harvest after Pacific National signalled its withdrawal from grain freight in Victoria and New South Wales late last year citing a $3m a month loss.</p> <p>But with no rail carrier to transport surplus wheat to port community action groups have grown increasingly restless.</p> <p>John Hayes, from Newcastle’s Throsby Community Forum, told the <em>ABC</em> if a solution was not found, it would place up to 600 extra trucks a day on the city’s streets.</p> <p>Farming bodies and Graincorp have both told <em>Lloyd’s List DCN</em> there were simply not enough B-doubles in NSW to move the harvest.</p> <p>Graincorp, Pacific National, AWB and the State Government had not yet reached a solution but a Graincorp insider insisted the problem would be rectified before the 2008&#4709 harvest.</p> <br />