The Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) has raised concerns around biosecurity in the nation after the recent closure of another truck wash yard.
The closure of the Geelong truck wash space already led to the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) expressing its frustrating at the lack of support for critical rural infrastructure, but the ALRTA says it’s more than just a livestock issue.
“Bulk commodity carriers—integral to Australia’s grain, feed, and food sectors—are also caught short. Operators moving between sensitive loads like grain, fertiliser, and feed must clean vehicles between loads to meet biosecurity, contamination, or export standards,” ALRTA executive director Anthony Boyle says.
“Yet across regional Australia, there are few, if any, compliant public facilities available to meet this demand. Apparently, a broom is sufficient.
“Meanwhile, in South East Queensland—home to one of Australia’s busiest livestock processing zones—effluent spill on public roads is becoming a daily hazard. In Warialda, NSW, drivers are facing curfews at truck wash facilities that force overnight delays, compounding fatigue risks and stalling productivity.
“At the same time, the ongoing consolidation of Australia’s saleyard network is stripping away another layer of critical infrastructure. As the industry centralises through larger, fewer yards, the number of accessible truck wash facilities is also declining. This is quietly undermining our national biosecurity posture, especially in areas with high freight intensity and animal movement.”
Boyle says what’s even more concerning is how “ill-equipped” the nation is to respond to a national livestock standstill event, such as an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) or Lumpy Skin Disease.
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“In the event of a standstill or regional containment order, the requirement to wash down and disinfect vehicles between every load would become immediate and absolute,” he says.
“And yet, our current wash infrastructure — scarce, aging, and regionally patchy — would be overwhelmed within hours. Without urgent investment, we are simply not prepared. This vulnerability affects every part of the supply chain — from producers and processors to bulk and livestock carriers.
“If we expect professional standards from transport operators, then we must provide the essential infrastructure to match those expectations, especially when national biosecurity hangs in the balance.”
Boyle has acknowledged the likes of the Livestock and Rural Transporters Association of Victoria (LRTAV) who is developing a “forward-thinking master plan” for a multi-purpose rest area in Geelong.
This concept combines a truck wash facility with amenities for driver rest and queue management near the Port of Geelong — echoing the recent Western Sydney rest stop model, but going further by addressing hygiene infrastructure needs.
Victoria is also trialling new governance. A truck wash steering committee, chaired by Agriculture Victoria’s Biosecurity Division, is exploring strategic responses. In South East Queensland, major processors are engaging with ALRTA to develop a regional master plan. In South Australia, planning is underway to expand the effluent dump point network across key freight corridors.
“What’s becoming clear is that no single solution – or single player – can fix this. Last week, ALRTA’s General Manager of Policy and Strategy, Ashley Mackinnon, highlighted the scale of work already underway to bring processors, saleyards, and industry leaders into one conversation,” Boyle says.
“The message is simple: teamwork is non-negotiable. A whole-of-chain mindset is critical to building infrastructure that can cope with normal operating demands — and crisis situations alike.
“ALRTA is using this mindset to develop a national supply chain solution — one that serves the needs of both livestock and bulk carriers, prioritises safety, hygiene, and traceability, and delivers real resilience in the face of future threats.”
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