Britnell flags September 21 curfew renewal as VTA makes more Covid-exit proposals
The Victorian Transport Association (VTA) is using consultations with the state government on the roadmap out of Covid-19 to recommend increased flexibility.
The VTA wants heavy vehicles to be given greater access to Victoria’s road network at night and times when the general public is less likely to use it, following fears the state’s delivery curfews are set to be reinstated.
Shadow Victorian transport minister Roma Britnell says Minister for the Coordination of Transport: Covid-19 Jacinta Allan confirmed in the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee (PAEC) that the curfews originally relaxed in March to allow trucks to deliver stock outside of normal delivery times will be reintroduced on September 21.
VTA is advising the government ahead of Sunday’s announcements on an anticipated phased approach to exiting stage 3 and 4 restrictions and has suggested several ideas on how the transport industry can safely support businesses getting back to work.
“The freight transport industry is moving around the community on a regular basis every day, has had very few Covid cases, and has not been a mode of spreading the virus,” VTA CEO Peter Anderson says.
“Our industry has conscientiously responded to Covid with operators embracing directions and restrictions, exceeding minimum standards, and applying additional measures to ensure drivers are protected and disciplined in their daily activities to prevent the virus spreading.”
Anderson says the industry has maintained an impeccable safety record since temporary changes to the Road Safety Act were made allowing greater heavy vehicle access to the road network, and that letting trucks use roads at night had been instrumental in keeping supermarket shelves stocked and averting panic buying.
Consistent with its petition to extend temporary changes to the Road Safety Act, the VTA has recommended the government not re-instate curfews for select sectors of the transport industry so that waste collection, supermarket, food and fuel deliveries, and manufacturing, construction and home deliveries can continue unabated.
Other recommendations include manual or electronic ‘track and trace’ work diaries so drivers can record personal contact with individuals outside their own base, and a review of current warehousing and distribution restrictions to one that takes into account the size of the building and number of workers, rather than just the blanket restrictions now place.
“As an essential service the transport, freight and logistics industry has been operating on a ‘green’ light since Covid restrictions were enacted in March, except for some exceptions around warehousing and distribution centres.
“We need our customers to get back to work as quickly as possible and we will be there to support their logistics needs.”
“Extending changes to the Act would go a long way towards ensuring continuity in the replenishment of goods for Victorian consumers.
“It is essential our industry can make deliveries to supermarkets, pharmacies and essential retailers, and support businesses and the economy as they start to re-open.”
VTA’s insight on four possible traffic light levels out of lockdown, here
Meanwhile, Britnell claims supermarket shelves are at risk of running low when delivery curfews on heavy vehicles are introduced later this month.
With distribution centres operating below normal capacity due to Covid restrictions and outbreaks, the only way to guarantee that essential products are available to all Victorians, every day, is to allow deliveries to be made outside regular hours.
She calls on the state government to allow the supply of essential goods to continue unabated during this pandemic.
“The Andrews Labor Government is planning to put the brakes on the very deliveries of the products and materials that Victorians need by reinstating the heavy vehicle curfews on September 21.
“Why should somebody who follows the rules by only making their one permitted trip to a single supermarket not be able to purchase what they need because of a Government that refuses to take action?
“Demand for consumer goods to be available at all hours of the day isn’t going to stop anytime soon.
“The Labor Minister for Ports and Freight needs to do some work for once and address these concerns as a matter of urgency.”