VCEC believes 'one-stop-shop' for road transport permits is needed in Victoria
By Ruza Zivkusic | June 22, 2011
The Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission (VCEC) believes a ‘one-stop-shop’ for road transport permits is needed in Victoria.
It is calling on VicRoads, in consultation with the Municipal Association of Victoria, to report to the Victorian Government by September 2012 on introducing the change.
VCEC’s manufacturing inquiry draft report shows a ‘one-stop-shop’ for transport permits, which incorporate state and local government requirements, could reduce compliance costs and delays faced by those requiring transport services.
“Multiple permit applications often involving different levels of government can impose unnecessary compliance costs and delays on firms seeking transport services,” the report says.
“Another issue is the number of permits and regulatory requirements that must be complied with. Many of these are imposed by the State Government but local government also has a role.”
As both transport services and energy are important inputs into manufacturing processes, any “unnecessary regulatory burdens that increase the costs of these inputs will impact on the costs of manufacturing,” the report says.
“The Victorian Freight and Logistics Council (VFLC) was concerned that Victorian regulation and regulatory issues between jurisdictions prevented the full use of heavy vehicles.”
The VFLC also believes there is a need for increased use of higher productivity vehicles (HPV) on Victorian roads.
“The VFLC argues that greater use of HPVs offers triple bottom line benefits for Victorians – social, environmental and economic.”