Patrick hits back following industry briefing outlining new landside reforms to force stevedores to pick up their game
By Samantha Freestone | May 6, 2010
Patrick has hit back following an industry briefing outlining new landside reforms to force stevedores to pick up their game.
The Port Botany Landside Improvement Strategy (PBLIS) follows years of calls from frustrated road carriers dealing with lengthy delays of up to five hours.
Minister for Ports and Waterways Paul McLeay headed-up the meeting this morning and says the major reforms are aimed at reducing congestion at Port Botany.
Under PBLIS truck carriers will receive a penalty payment if stevedores fail to meet the regulated standards. Effective from the end of September, these will include:
- Stevedore must pay the road carrier $25 for every 15-minute delay
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Stevedore must pay the road carrier $100 for cancelled slot if cancelled within 2 hours of slot or $50 to be paid for cancelled slot outside this period
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Road carrier must pay the stevedore $50 for late arrival
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Road carrier must pay the stevedore $100 for no-show.
With both stevedores and road carriers accountable,
McLeay says
the new regulations give all parties “a fair go”.
But Patrick say the PBLIS will not improve efficiency.
Patrick Divisional General Manager Paul Garaty says current “flexible working arrangements” have maintained truck turn-around times below 40 minutes.
He says under the new arrangement the current “30 and 60 minute grace periods” can no longer be provided.
“Currently 44,000 trucks arrive late for their designated time slot each year; with the introduction of regulation these trucks will be turned back onto Sydney’s roads,” Garaty says.
“This will inevitably mean that increased costs to port users from both wharfage and regulation will be picked up along the supply chain resulting in increased costs for the people of NSW.
“This should be seen for what it is, just another state government tax on all consumers.”