Association welcomes proposed access improvements
The National Road Transport Association (NatRoad) has met with government in response to the Review of Oversize Overmass (OSOM) Access Arrangements report, saying it supports the proposed reforms but has also identified some areas for improvement.
With 38 recommendations set out in the report, NatRoad says the report highlights the magnitude of changes needed to increase the efficiency of OSOM freight movements.
“NatRoad supports these recommendations and is pleased that the Government is prioritising administrative actions that can be taken immediately,” the association says.
“But some of the legislative changes will feed into the review of the Heavy Vehicle National Law.
“As priorities, we want the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator [NHVR] to focus on: improving permit approval processes with local road managers to reduce waiting times; increasing pre-approved routes and national notices; making the NHVR’s so-called Journey Planner more useable and current by incorporating all mapping data from state and territory road manager’s mapping tools; and harmonising national standards for pilot and escort vehicles.”
Read more about the OSOM access reform tasks, here
In its discussion with the government, NatRoad also identified issues it believes are inadequately addressed in the review report.
These include: “The need for consistency in defining ‘low loaders’ which are often used to transport OSOM freight; the ineffectiveness of the Intelligent Access Program; and consideration of issues impacting on heavy vehicle recovery operators,” NatRoad says.
It notes another round of consultations will be held with industry stakeholders to refine the actions for improving OSOM access arrangements.