The state is making a recent freight access scheme permanent
The New South Wales government is permanently allowing the heavy vehicle farm gate access network so freight operators can move produce easily from farms to markets.
NSW regional transport and roads minister Sam Farraway announced the trialled network would now become permanent.
Farraway says the successful trial in six pilot areas of NSW means the network will become permanent to improve access to local roads for heavy vehicles, cutting red-tape by reducing the need to apply for access permits.
“The trial of the farm gate access network has been a success for both industry and local government and it provides council better insight into freight movements on their roads,” Farraway says.
“Modern heavy vehicles are fitted with telematics which provides both the operators and councils an accurate picture of their movement and can be used to base road upgrade priorities on.
“For the farmer and transport operators, the scheme significantly cuts the red tape of making a permit application every time they want to use a local road often to the farm’s front gate.”
Farraway says the networked was developed by Transport for NSW, Livestock Bulk and Rural Carriers Association, NSW Farmers and partnering councils.
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“With the trial becoming permanent, we expect more councils to take advantage of what telematics data can offer which will drive productivity improvement in our regions,” he says.
The president of the Livestock Bulk & Rural Carriers Association (LBRCA) Paul Pulver says the organisation is proud to be part of the initiative.
“The NSW farm gate access network will increase productivity and economy of task for transporters while delivering strong safety benefits for local communities by reducing the number of freight movements and the cost of business,” Pulver says.
“Less road movements, pollution, lower operating costs equals safer roads, better loads and less red tape.”
Currently 12 NSW councils and over 135 vehicles are participating in the initiative.