A CAMPAIGN to lift the curfew that prevents the trucks of paper maker Visy passing through Adelong has emerged, with Tumut's Des "Demon" Downes spearheading the push.
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The curfew, in place from 10pm to 7am each day, means Visy trucks have to use the busy Gocup Road linking Tumut and Gundagai.
Mr Downes, who has a history of protesting to improve trucking safety, said the diversion adds two hours travel time to Visy truckies' night shifts.
He hopes a petition will gather enough signatures to sway the state government to lift the curfew.
But the petition does not have the support of Visy, which has previously sought to maintain its reputation in the community by not angering residents.
"Not letting the trucks, and I don't think there is a heap of them, through Adelong at night puts undue pressure on the Gocup Road, which the government is spending a lot of time and money on," Mr Downes said.
"I need to get Visy drivers and Visy themselves behind this push to lift the curfew.
"The drivers want the quickest, safest way. I talk to them all the time."
Mr Downes is periodically camping outside Visy to monitor the amount of trucks entering the mill and is circulating his petition in the community.
In 2009, Mr Downes escaped conviction after his petition to improve the safety of the Gocup Road landed him in hot water.
The Tumut local interrupted a Blue Liners Tumut charity ride by rolling his wheelchair onto the road and waving down riders so they would sign his petition.
He defied a police order to move on.
But after Mr Downes' passionate campaign Gocup Road has benefited from a number of upgrades to improve its safety.
Mr Downes believes his latest campaign will be a success.
- with The Tumut & Adelong Times
