The federal and New South Wales governments are combining to commit $1.75 million to an upgrade to the Yambie Lagoon heavy vehicle rest area along the Kamilaroi Highway between Walgett and Brewarrina in the state’s north-west.
Works are set to begin in early 2025, in a move which the government says will improve the quality of heavy vehicle rest stops are consultation with the road freight industry.
Federal assistant transport minister Carol Brown says fatigue needs to be addressed in NSW.
“Driver fatigue is one of the top three factors leading to fatal crashes on NSW roads, contributing to at least 21 per cent of heavy vehicle fatal crashes in regional NSW in the five years since December 2019,” she says.
“The federal government’s Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program supported projects that aim to improve access to rest areas for drivers of larger vehicles, providing more opportunities to manage fatigue and their regulatory requirements.
“We have now established the new Safer Local Road and Infrastructure Program – which merges the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program and Bridges Renewal Program with funding increased from $150 million to $200 million per year.”
The Yambie Lagoon upgrade is much-needed, as there are currently no toilet or rest facilities for more than 120 kilometres across this section of the Kamilaroi Highway.
Heavy vehicle industry representatives were consulted in early 2020 to provide input into the proposed locations of future rest stop opportunities on the Kamilaroi Highway between Walgett and Bourke.
“Rural freight routes such as the Kamilaroi Highway through this region are essential for the movement of produce, livestock and other goods, and we respect that these corridors are the workplace of heavy vehicle drivers,” says NSW roads minister Jenny Aitchison.
“This essential upgrade will transform the existing informal rest area on the eastbound shoulder of the Kamilaroi Highway heading towards Walgett and will involve building toilet and shelter facilities as well as picnic tables and extended parking for heavy and light vehicles.”
The $1.75 million is being jointly funded by the state and federal governments.
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