ROAD FREIGHT NSW CALLS FOR URGENCY AND CERTAINTY ON GREAT WESTERN HIGHWAY REPAIRS

Road Freight NSW (RFNSW) is calling for urgent progress, clear timelines and practical support measures as freight operators, businesses and regional communities continue to deal with major disruption following the closure of the Great Western Highway.

 

With two contractors still involved in the process and the final construction timeline expected to be determined once a contractor is appointed, RFNSW said uncertainty around the project was adding pressure across the freight task and wider community.

 

RFNSW said if Transport for NSW (TfNSW) is preparing industry and residents for a disruption lasting up to 12 months, planning and support measures now need to reflect that reality.

 

“This is a critical freight route for New South Wales and communities across the Central West depend on it every day,” RFNSW Chief Executive Officer Simon O’Hara said.

 

“We appreciate this is a complicated project and the final timeframe will depend on the contractor appointed and the scope of works required once they get in.

 

“But operators need certainty and need to be able to plan accordingly instead of waiting for timelines that keep changing.”

 

RFNSW said the process to appoint contractors and move into major work needed to be urgent and called for the process to be streamlined.

 

“Every additional week has flow-on impacts for freight operators, local businesses and the communities now carrying increased traffic volumes,” Mr O’Hara said.

 

“Drivers are dealing with longer trips, increased fatigue pressures and more congestion, especially as tourism traffic increases.

 

“People living along diversion routes are understandably frustrated. They are now seeing and hearing heavy vehicles day and night, and questions are already being asked about how long some of these roads can cope with that level of freight traffic.”

 

RFNSW said the disruption also reinforced the need for practical flexibility from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), including maintaining fatigue-related exemptions while the closure remains in place.

 

“Truck drivers already have enough on their plate trying to navigate changing routes, delays and additional pressure on the network,” Mr O’Hara said.

 

“The NHVR and NSW Police should be concentrating on serious heavy vehicle safety issues and practical operational support during this period, not minor compliance matters relating to the visibility of new and visible “DO NOT OVERTAKE TURNING VEHICLE signs” on the back of trucks.

 

“This is not a normal operating environment and it needs a practical response.”

 

RFNSW said while the repairs are necessary and likely overdue, the focus now must be on delivering the work efficiently and reopening the corridor as quickly as possible.

 

“This has come at a terrible time for freight operators and regional communities,” Mr O’Hara said.

 

“The priority now should be getting the works underway, cutting unnecessary delays where possible and reopening this major supply chain route as quickly as it can safely happen.”