Governments and industry bodies seal agreement on HPV network pilot
A new heavy vehicle access initiative in NSW aims to cut permit red tape for operators and farmers across local road networks.
Farm Gate Access Network (FGAN) streamlines end-to-end transport access from farm gate to market in six pilot areas across the state.
The trial will provide conditional area-wide access for higher productivity vehicles (HPVs) transporting grain or livestock on council roads in six local government areas (LGA) including Tamworth and Gunnedah.
NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole says the FGAN pilot will improve access to the local road network across NSW for larger, modern trucks and cut red-tape for farmers and transport operators by reducing the need for access permits.
“This is a huge step forward for farmers and freight operators, ensuring they can make use of safer, modern trucks to move stock and grain to market more efficiently and without the red tape,” Toole adds.
Toole notes eligible heavy vehicles were fitted with modern telematics technology, increasing the visibility of freight moving around the network.
The information would be aggregated and shared with councils to help support decision making and planning about road maintenance and future upgrades.
The scheme is being piloted in six LGAs:
- Tamworth Regional Council
- Gunnedah Shire Council
- Junee Shire Council
- Coolamon Shire Council
- Narrandera Shire Council
- Temora Shire Council.
“This initiative is a win-win for local communities – increased farm productivity and a better understanding of how the road network is used,” Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson state MP says.
“It will bolster end-to-end heavy vehicle access, ensure vehicles can operate compliantly and help drive an increase in productivity for NSW transport operators”.
How a natural disaster response saw NSW further open up its truck network, here
Supported by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), the FGAN was developed in partnership between the NSW government, Livestock Bulk and Rural Carriers Association (LBRCA), NSW Farmers and local government.
The state Livestock Bulk and Rural Carriers Association (LBRCA) points out that the project will enable safer, more productive, and legal access when transporting primary products to and from rural properties using HPVs.
“Improving access to local road networks across NSW is a significant productivity gain for our industry,” LBRCA president Paul Pulver says.
For NSW Farmers, after years of drought, this year’s bumper harvest has highlighted the importance of improved and clear access to local road networks, with barriers to efficient transport adding time and cost for grain growers and farmers.
“As heavy vehicles have become safer and technology is within reach of most carriers, it is important that regulation keeps pace,” its president, James Jackson, says.
“The information that these six pilots will generate will be invaluable to expand and improve farm gate access across regional NSW.”
To determine the success of the pilot, a review will take place in six months’ time.
A fact sheet on the initiative is available here.