NHVR expedites permit applications and cuts fees for drought relief as state launches permit exemption notice
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and the New South Wales government have acted to help alleviate the burden on trucking companies aiming to provide assistance to drought-affected farmers.
The NHVR is currently prioritising applications from drivers seeking permits to take loads of hay and water into drought-affected areas, as well as allowing for cash savings through its Drought Relief Access Permits scheme.
Under the scheme, a heavy vehicle operator is eligible for the exemption of $73 in permit costs if either the local government area or property they are travelling to or from has been drought-declared.
A map of drought-declared areas in NSW is available here, and a similar map for Queensland is available here.
To ensure the NHVR staff prioritise the application, and alert local road managers to its urgency, operators are asked to ensure they write “Drought Relief Operations” in the reference field of their application.
NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto says the Drought Relief Access Permit Scheme will apply for the transport of fodder freight, water cartage, stock or restocking freight and emergency water infrastructure.
More information about the scheme is available on the NHVR factsheet here.
“I’m pleased that the NHVR has been able to provide some relief and waive access fees for heavy vehicles operating to and from drought-affected properties,” Petroccitto tells ATN.
“Importantly for heavy vehicle operators we’re also able to prioritise and fast track access permits with road managers, for properties in drought-declared areas.”
“We’ve fast tracked more than 120 permits in recent weeks for access on to properties in drought-declared areas.”
The news came as NSW minister for primary industries Niall Blair announced the introduction of the NSW Class 3 Drought Assistance Dimension Exemption Notice, meaning more hay can be transported with every truckload visiting the state.
The exemption notice will allow eligible vehicles transporting hay to travel under notice and without a permit – including B-doubles up to 26 metres long – to the maximum height on the approved 4.6 metre high network and up to 2.83 metres wide on all other approved roads.
Blair says the exemption notice, which will come into effect on 15 August, will mean more hay can be transported per truckload, reducing costs for farmers.
“This means we will not waste a trip – every truck load will be used to its full capacity,” he says.
The government has also committed to providing access permits for trucks transporting loads of hay in excess of 4.6m high, and allowing permits for road trains on roads where they are not currently approved, “on a case-by-case basis,” it says in an announcement.
The Queensland government yesterday announced it would put $1 million towards helping farmers access fodder for their livestock, with the money to go towards subsidising the transport of fodder into the state.
Queensland minister for Agricultural Industry Development Mark Furner says the money will lift the maximum distance that fodder can be transported at a subsidised rate to 2,000km.
“To put that in some perspective – the longest distance from corner to corner in New South Wales is about 1,300km,” he says.
“This allows fodder to be transported to the most northerly drought affected area in Queensland, just south of Normanton, from the Mallee in Victoria, where fodder is available – at the subsidised rate.”
The move follows a rural media report on drought relief truck drivers being fined in NSW for the most minor of infringements.