Heavy Vehicle Inspection Bay signs near Razorback Mountain cause concern for truck drivers.
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Wollondilly Shire Council has received feedback from “irate” truck drivers, alarmed that the Razorback Blockade site could become an RMS truck inspection bay.
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Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) road signs near Razorback Mountain have caused outrage and confusion.
Razorback rebel Spencer Watling, one of the five instigators of the Razorback Blockade in 1979, took photos of the RMS signs. He believes the new signs indicate the RMS plans to use the rest area at the top of Razorback Mountain near Picton, New South Wales, as a heavy vehicle inspection bay.
“We’re not going to let them do it,” Watling told Owner//Driver. He says the site of the 1979 Razorback Blockade is “sacred” as far as the transport industry is concerned. “I think it’s a disgrace.”
But Owner//Driver has been unable to confirm whether RMS plans to use the rest area as an inspection bay.
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One of the RMS signs near Razorback Mountain. Photo by Spencer Watling.
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A spokesperson for RMS says initial investigations revealed no truck inspections have taken place at the rest area in the past 12 months. They were not aware of the signs or of any plans to establish a truck inspection bay at the Razorback Memorial site. RMS is examining photographs of the signs, and will report back to Owner//Driver after representatives have visited the mountain to inspect the signs.
Watling says the two signs are on the Picton side of Razorback Mountain. One sign reads: “Heavy Vehicle Inspection Bay 500m on left. Vehicle over 4.5t GVM stop if directed”. The other says: “Heavy Vehicle Inspection Bay 1km on left”.
He noticed the signs when he visited Razorback Mountain on June 1 for a ceremony to honour his friend, the late Ted ‘Greendog’ Stevens. A small group of Greendog’s family and friends met on the mountain to spread Greendog’s ashes near the Razorback Blockade Memorial.
Greendog, who passed away in February 2018, was the spokesperson for the Razorback Blockade back in 1979. Watling believes Greendog would be “absolutely fuming” about the signs.
Wollondilly Shire Council was also unable to explain the signs. Director of Infrastructure and Environment, Michael Malone, says “Wollondilly Shire Council is always supportive of safety initiatives that look to protect all road users. However, we were not aware of the implementation of the Heavy Vehicle Inspection Area at Razorback by RMS and are seeking advice from the RMS on this change and changes to their enforcement program.”
Shire Councillor, Simon Landow, has heard from many “irate” truck drivers who don’t want the Razorback Blockade site used as a truck inspection bay. He wants RMS to remove the signs.
The RMS has since removed the signs.