After reading the dozens of Facebook comments about our story on the dumped fridge vans at the Charton pads, truckies’ advocate Wes Walker decided to go back to the site today to take a second look.
One reader had already said two were gone, and many others joked about helping themselves to the former property of Emerald Refrigerated Logistics, which folded last year, owing millions.
“They’ve all gone now,” said Walker before snapping off a few pictures of the area the rusting fridge vans had occupied for months.
“I think that once people read that the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) weren’t interested in unregistered and unroadworthy vehicles on their facility, it could be alleged that they were taken for storage on acreage.”
Walker said he also rang the receivers who told him they were surprised to hear the news of the trailers’ disappearance.
“I think they thought it was a blessing that they didn’t have to deal with them.
“It would have cost them more to get them roadworthy and take them to auction than what they would have got for them.”
Walker said he’s just glad that the space has been finally freed up for working trucks and fleets on a site that’s already operating at its capacity.
Big Rigs has approached TMR for a response.
“We are aware of the trailers parked at the Charlton Heavy Vehicle Decoupling Facility,” said a TMR spokesperson in an emailed statement earlier in the week.
“They are not impacting safety or accessibility and there is no time restriction for parking there.
“We will continue to monitor the trailers and take appropriate action, if required.”
More to come.