The Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) has responded to an Inquiry into the implications of severe weather events on the national regional, rural and remote road network.
The Inquiry is being undertaken by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport following a referral from the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, the Hon Catherine King MP.
The inquiry was launched after the country’s road network was thrown into a state of crisis following several years of extreme weather events that demonstrated how ineffective the current road network model is.
The national transport industry has been heavily affected by the widespread road damage, with trucks being forced to take large detours. Regional communities have also been adversely affected as they become unable to receive vital freight deliveries.
The terms of reference for the Inquiry include:
- Road engineering and construction standards required to enhance the resiliency of future road construction;
- Identification of climate resilient corridors suitable for future road construction projects;
- Opportunities to enhance road resilience through the use of waterproof products in road construction;
- The Commonwealth’s role in road resilience planning; and
- Any related issues.
The ALRTA says its National Council considered the terms of reference at a meeting last month. It was also important for Council to consider the nexus with a separate National Transport Commission consultation paper proposing to increase heavy vehicle charges between 6 – 10 percent annually for the next three years.
The ALRTA has made 11 recommendations in its submission that cover everything from spending decisions, awarding construction contracts and road materials.
Recommendation 1: That Australian Governments increase the proportion of road funding spent on maintenance on national regional, rural and remote roads.
Recommendation 2: That Australian Governments fast-track work on road funding and supply-side reform to provide improved equity and certainty for local road managers in regional, rural and remote areas.
Recommendation 3: That Australian Governments ensure that road funding and supply-side reforms consider road quality objectives such as safety and economic utility, as well as whole-of-life infrastructure costs.
Recommendation 4: That technical specifications for road base construction materials be reviewed and revised towards an outcomes-based model.
Recommendation 5: That the application of ‘green’ road surface emulsifications be abandoned pending a review of their effectiveness. Traditional tar-based products should instead be used.
Recommendation 6: That Australian Governments place greater emphasis on road drainage maintenance and clearance of problematic vegetation.
Recommendation 7: That road construction contracts are awarded only to accredited construction professionals with a greater focus on value for money and quality outcomes, as opposed to meeting minimum standards at the lowest cost.
Recommendation 8: That Australian Governments cooperate in planning and working towards improving the resilience of the Australian road freight network.
Recommendation 9: That the Australian Government allocate and emergency funding package totalling nearly $5.5 billion, including:
- A one-off injection of $1 billion over four years directed at regional road and infrastructure reconstruction for councils impacted by flooding and other natural disasters to ensure the rebuild is to a standard more resilient to future disaster events;
- $800 million a year over four years for the Roads to Recovery Program;
- $300 million a year over four years to address first and last mile freight productivity; and,
Targeted funding through the Roads of Strategic Importance program to improve the long-term climate resilience of freight networks.
Recommendation 10: That expenditure related to bushfire or flood damage be identified and quarantined from the cost-base applicable to heavy vehicles. Natural disaster related road expenditure must be a whole of community responsibility.
Recommendation 11: That heavy vehicle registration and Road User Charges be increased by 3 per cent in 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26.
A copy of the ALRTA submission can be found here.