Work to start on WA rest-area upgrade program

Cash locked in and locations identified with industry stakeholders

About $14 million of major upgrades to 14 heavy vehicle rest areas across regional Western Australia will soon be underway, the state’s transport minister announces.

The locations for the first phase of the program were determined through extensive consultation with industry groups including the Transport Workers Union (TWU) WA, Livestock and Rural Transport Association of WA (LRTAWA) and Western Roads Federation (WRF), Rita Saffioti adds.

Industry priorities comprised major upgrades at Newman, Auski, Karijini and Leonora, and improvements at 10 key heavy vehicles sites in the Pilbara, Mid-West Gascoyne, Wheatbelt, Goldfields-Esperance and South-West regions, including waterproofing, better access and facilities.

The state and Commonwealth governments have committed $50 million under the Freight Vehicle Productivity Improvements Program (FVPIP) for improvements across the state road network.

How the push for WA truckstop upgrades came about, here

“Freight drivers provide an essential service and it’s important we have the necessary amenities and facilities available in regional WA that these drivers need,” Saffioti says.

“We’ve worked with the transport industry to finalise 14 high priority locations across regional WA that will receive $14 million of urgent upgrades with works to commence shortly.

“I’d like to thank the Commonwealth for their financial contribution and the transport industry for all their work on the program.”

The 2022-23 program, which has an allocation of $36 million, will also be developed through consultation with industry.

TWU WA voices its approval to Saffioti “for recognising the importance of truck drivers by committing to essential and humane infrastructure in the form of safe and appropriate rest stop amenities on the highways of WA”.

“This funding would not have been possible if not for the tireless campaigning of union members and all transport workers should be grateful for the hard work of TWU members” said state secretary Tim Dawson says.

“I want to thank member for Balcatta, David Michael MLA, who has been a tireless advocate for truck drivers and the Transport Minister Rita Saffioti should be commended for her ongoing support of transport workers and their union, the TWU.

“Their recognition of how essential transport workers are and were throughout the pandemic should be commended.”

“With this State Government’s willingness to consult with industry and union members, together we can make significant improvements to the lives of truck drivers and ensure the funding is directed to the correct places.”

The upgrade list includes:

Pilbara region

Marble Bar Road – Minor rest area improvements and construct ablution block ($170,000);
Great Northern Highway at Karijini Drive – Upgrade rest area, construct ablution block ($1.06 million);
Great Northern Highway at Bell Street – Minor improvements and construct ablution block ($170,000);
Great Northern Highway, Whim Creek – Upgrade rest area and construct ablution block ($170,000);
Great Northern Highway, Newman – Construct new rest area and ablution block ($6.16 million);
Great Northern Highway, Auski – Construct new rest area and ablution block ($3.2 million); and
Great Northern Highway, Redmont – Minor rest area improvements and construct ablution block ($170,000).

Mid-West region

Great Northern Highway, Wubin – Minor rest area improvements and construct ablution block ($200,000);
Great Northern Highway 115 km north of Wubin – Minor rest area improvements, construct ablution block ($200,000);
North West Coastal Highway, Northampton – Minor rest area improvements, construct ablution block ($200,000);
Minilya Exmouth Road – Minor rest area improvements, construct shower and ablution block ($400,000);
Great Eastern Highway, Northam – Minor RTTA improvements, construct ablution block ($100,000).

Goldfields-Esperance region