LBRCA hails NSW rationalisation of access east of Newell Highway
The Livestock, Bulk and Rural Carriers Association (LBRCA) is celebrating reforms to certain road train access conditions in New South Wales.
The state association’s long-term agitation for consistency of access for similar performing vehicles including flexibility in telematics and suspension requirements has now borne fruit following confirmation from regional transport minister Paul Toole, it reports.
“This significant and critical reform will remove roadblocks that have stifled productivity and growth of many NSW operators over the years because of inconsistent road train access east of the Newell Highway,” LBRCA president Paul Pulver says.
“However, in acknowledging this exciting reform we must not lose sight of the last mile of the Newell Highway, through Parkes, that remains the missing link for road train access on this key freight corridor.
“To truly realise the benefits of this reform, we must now focus our efforts on removing the need to divert road train combinations onto secondary roads from the Newell Highway to avoid the town centre of Parkes.”
LBRCA is now concentrating efforts on this final piece of the Newell Highway road train access puzzle by preparing for meetings with relevant local, state and federal government authorities.
“This reform would not be possible without the determination and leadership by Transport for NSW representatives including Susie Mackay, executive director of freight, and Scott Greenow, acting director of freight,” Pulver notes.
Comment has been sought from Transport for NSW.
The changes, fact sheets and interactive map can found here.
Read how the LBRCA foreshadowed the changes, here
Meanwhile, it has been a busy week for Toole, with new virus testing facilities for truck drivers.
“We’re keeping freight moving and freight workers CovidSafe with dedicated pop-up Covid-19 testing sites at Narrandera Roadhouse on the Newell Highway and at the Tarcutta truck change over area off the Hume Highway,” Toole says.
“We know that heavy vehicles can’t easily access the large majority of the current community testing locations because of parking restrictions or opening hours so these pop-up sites will make it easier for our truckies to get tested.”
Details can be found here.