The federal and New South Wales governments have announced a new partnership that will see Western Sydney receive its first dedicated heavy vehicle rest area.
A six-hectare piece of land close to a key junction of the motorway network has been chosen as the site for the area, with the two governments contributing $40 million each to transform the greenfield site at Eastern Creek.
The end result will see a purpose-built rest stop available for truckies to shower and take a break from the road.
“The safety of our truckies is a priority of our government and improving the number and quality of heavy vehicle rest areas is critical for that,” federal transport minister Catherine King says.
“We’ve listened to our truck drivers, and will deliver what they’ve asked for – shelter, toilets, hot showers, drinking water, shade and bays to sleep.
“These are things that we often take for granted at our own workplace but are not easily accessible for our truckies while they are working on the road.
“Availability of adequate rest areas helps truckies to better manage fatigue and avoid incidents on the road, ultimately saving lives.”
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Developing the first dedicated truck stop in Western Sydney was an election commitment by the NSW government, with the Eastern Creek site to deliver a rest area for truck drivers between Pheasants Nest to the south of Sydney and Wyong to the north – a distance of 180 kilometres and nearly two hours driving.
The site is located five minutes from the M7 and 10 minutes from the M4 and will be of particular benefit to drivers hauling freight through Sydney between Victoria and Queensland.
“Sydney has a reputation for being Australia’s least friendly city for truck drivers. We are changing that,” NSW roads minister John Graham says.
“Truckies are the backbone of our economy and they deserve a place in Sydney to rest and recharge. It was our promise to deliver a dedicated truck rest area in Western Sydney and identifying this six-hectare site is the critical step.
“This land is close by the heart of the motorway network where the M7 and the M4 meet at Eastern Creek making it the ideal site.
“At the moment there is a 180-kilometre gap from the southern outskirts of Sydney to the Central Coast in which truck drivers must make do with service stations and local roads to get a break. This is not fair.
“By ensuring our truck drivers are well-rested we are also ensuring the safest possible motorway network for all drivers.”
A survey of 800 truckies – overwhelmingly long-haul drivers of B-doubles and semi-trailers – found safety and security was their highest priority for a rest area, as well as the provision of separate toilet and shower facilities for female drivers.
Based on driver feedback and industry consultation, the rest area will provide flushing toilets, clean drinking water, hot showers, ample available parking including secluded bays for sleeping, and shaded areas for time outside the truck cabin.
The new rest stop will provide space for a range of heavy vehicles, including oversize overmass, and it will give truckies a safe and accessible area to rest and mange fatigue as part of their journey.
“The federal government’s Heavy Vehicle Rest Area initiative aims to increase heavy vehicle user safety and productivity through vital new and upgraded rest areas across their journey,” Senator Glenn Sterle says.
“We want to keep our truck drivers and communities safe and these new and upgraded rest stops will help drivers reduce their fatigue as they keep goods moving across the country.”
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