Heavy vehicle farm gate access to become permanent

Livestock truck crosses railway tracks in New South Wales.

Freight operators will be able to more easily move produce from the farm gate to market, with NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway today announcing the Farm Gate Access network will become permanent.

Farraway said following a successful trial in six pilot areas across New South Wales, making the network permanent will improve access to local roads for heavy vehicles and cut red-tape by reducing the need to apply for access permits.

“The trial of the Farm Gate Access network has been a success for both industry and local government, and provides councils better insight into freight movements on their roads,” he said.

“Modern heavy vehicles are fitted with telematics which provides both the operators and councils an accurate picture of their movement and can be used to base road upgrade priorities on,” said Farraway.

“For the farmer and transport operators, the scheme significantly cuts the red tape of making a permit application every time they want to use a local road often to the farm’s front gate.

“The network, developed by Transport for NSW, Livestock Bulk and Rural Carriers Association, NSW Farmers and partnering councils is a win-win for everyone.

“With the trial becoming permanent, we expect more councils to take advantage of what telematics data can offer which will drive productivity improvement in our regions.”

President of Livestock Bulk & Rural Carriers Association (LBRCA) Paul Pulver said the organisation is proud to be a part of the initiative.

“The NSW Farm Gate Access Network will increase productivity and economy of task for transporters and deliver strong safety benefits for local communities by reducing the number of freight movements and reducing the cost of business,” said Pulver.

“Less road movements, less pollution, lower operating costs equals safer roads, better loads and less red tape.”

At present, 12 regional councils across NSW and over 135 vehicles are participating in the initiative.

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