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NHVR takes on Tasmania permits process

National body will have full power to approve permits, without reference to state authorities

 

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is set to resume full control over road permits in Tasmania. 

This will include all oversize and over mass permits, as well as agricultural and special vehicle permits.

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto says it is a “return to standard” operations under the National Heavy Vehicle Law and follows discussions with the Tasmanian Department of State Growth.

Since last year, transport operators have lodged their permit applications directly with the NHVR, which then forwards them on to the department for its approval.

Once approved, the application is sent back to NHVR which issues the appropriate permit.

“The arrangements in Tasmania were a temporary measure to assist the NHVR, and the return of the coordination of the road manager component allows State Growth resources to focus on other priorities,” the department’s general manager of road user services, Penny Nicholls, says.

Petroccito says NHVR is now better positioned to resume full control of the process.

“We have significantly boosted our capacity to track and report on all classes of permit applications at every stage of the process,” he adds.

“We plan to offer that real-time visibility to all participants in the process, including heavy haulage operators.

“We are aiming to provide access to the NHVR application tracker to all industry customers, so they can know where their application is at all times.”

Tasmanian Transport Association executive director Robin Phillips has welcomed the change, but says more needs to be done to streamline the permit application process – regardless of who is in charge.

“This is a sensible approach to managing heavy haulage vehicles in Tasmania and the TTA welcomes all measures that simplify the permit process,” Phillips says.

“We look forward to working with the NHVR, State Growth and local governments in further improving the permit approval process in Tasmania.”

Phillips says that under the current system, which will remain in place until May 4, operators have had to wait for up to a month for permit approvals.

“It’s taking 28 days or more because the national regulator also requires local sign-offs, and that often several local authorities were involved for a single delivery,” he said in March.

“This bureaucracy is seriously hurting business here.”

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