ALRTA News – 31 March 2017

2017 SAFETY INNOVATION AWARD: NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN

ALRTA and NHVR advise that nominations for the joint 2017 Safety Innovation Award are now open.

The Award recognises and rewards rural road transport operators who have identified HVNL related safety risks and implemented successful, innovative control measures.

Applications will close on June 30, 2017.  The winner will be announced at the LRTAV Conference 11-12 August, 2017.

Nominations are open to all livestock, bulk and rural carriers who are financial members of LRTAQ, LBRCA, LRTAV, LTAT, LRTASA or LRTAWA.

You can nominate yourself or a fellow carrier who takes a proactive approach to controlling safety risks!

Application forms are available here.

LRTAQ CALLS FOR ACTION ON ROADSIDE EFFLUENT MANAGEMENT

The LRTAQ has called for the Queensland Government and Local Councils to work with industry to develop a plan for the construction and funding of managed roadside disposal sites for livestock effluent.

LRTAQ President, Ian Wild, said that the State of Queensland has a strong public interest in protecting the livestock supply chain and it was vital to plan ahead to ensure that the sector can co-exist with rapid urbanisation in South East Queensland.

“Queensland is home to the largest cattle heard in Australia and can ill-afford to ignore controllable risks to the livestock supply chain,” said President Wild.

“There are four major abattoirs in the Brisbane area with four major highways (Bruce, Cunningham, Warrego, Brisbane Valley) carrying many tens of thousands of animals for processing annually.  While professional livestock carriers who enter this area are using effluent capture tanks, they are unable to fully control effluent loss because of the poor animal preparation practices of other parties in the chain and a complete lack of managed roadside disposal infrastructure.

“As the urban population in South East Queensland continues to rise, so too do concerns about effluent loss and potential impacts on road safety, biosecurity risk, animal welfare and public amenity.

“The Federal Government has estimated that an outbreak of foot and mouth disease would cost more than $40b to the national economy and effluent is a known vector for spread of the disease.

“Our compatriots in New Zealand have recognised and addressed this problem with a comprehensive effluent management strategy that includes the installation of managed roadside effluent disposal facilities around key ‘hot spots’ such as we have in South East Queensland.

“LRTAQ is sending a representative as part of an Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association delegation to New Zealand, 26-29 April 2017, to inspect roadside effluent facilities and discuss issues around funding, site selection and management.

“With more than $1b being spent on the second Toowoomba range crossing, now is the time for the Queensland Government and Local Councils to commence planning for the construction and funding of managed roadside disposal sites for livestock effluent in South East Queensland,” said President Wild.

CONSIDER A DONATION TO HEART OF AUSTRALIA

Following the moving keynote address by Dr Rolf Gomes at our joint State-National Conference in Toowoomba Queensland, the ALRTA has this month made a $1,000 donation to support this extremely worthwhile cause.

Heart of Australia delivers fortnightly specialist medical investigation and treatment clinics to regional, rural and remote area communities across Queensland, including Dalby, Goondiwindi, Stanthorpe, St George, Charleville, Roma, Emerald, Barcaldine, Longreach, Hughenden, Charters Towers and Moranbah.

The customized road train – a specialist medical clinic-on-wheels – has travelled more than 150,000km on the road covering an area of more than 450,000 square kilometres.

Heart of Australia is breaking the grip of distance that denies rural and remote-area Australians access to services when and where they are needed most.

The ALRTA asks all members to consider making a donation to Heart of Australia to support the service help with expansion plans.

You can find all the details here.

NHVR CHAIN OF RESPONSIBILITY WORKSHOPS

The NHVR is delivering a number of information sessions across the country to discuss amendments to Chain of Responsibility laws that are coming in mid 2018.

The latest sessions added for Victoria are:

  • Geelong, 6 April
  • Hoopers Crossing, 6 April
  • Dandenong, 6 April
  • Traralgon, 7 April.

For more information and to register visit www.nhvr.gov.au/cor

HAVE YOUR SAY ON LAST MILE ACCESS FOR PBS VEHICLES

The last mile is sometimes the hardest when seeking PBS vehicle access to a local government managed road.

This short stakeholder survey is a component of Austroads project NEF2096, Local Road Access for High Productivity Freight Vehicles.  Austroads is funded by all states and territories to support member organisations to deliver an improved Australasian road transport network. For more information go to www.austroads.com.au.

Advantia Transport Consulting has been engaged to compile information that will help road managers better understand the nature of last mile access issues, and what can be done to overcome them.  “We’re looking for real life examples of local road access being made possible by overcoming perceived or actual barriers,” advised Advantia’s Managing Director, Rob Di Cristoforo. “We’ll be reporting on the most interesting case studies, so it would be great to get a good response from the industry.”  Responses by 21 April 2017.

The survey can be accessed here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NEF2096

NATIONAL CONFERENCE SESSIONS – NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

We have received some amazing feedback on the ALRTA National Conference Sessions in Toowoomba, so we’ve put the sessions online so you can catch up on topics important to hard working transport operators.

Don’t miss interesting panels and presentations on:

  • What causes Rollovers?
  • Who’s responsible for Effluent Control?
  • Emerging Technology, Regulation and Practices
  • Contrasting approaches to Road Access in the East and the West
  • NHVR’s Strategy and Operations
  • Major Accident Investigations

Please go to https://alrta.org.au/about/events/ and choose the audio/video session you want to view.

ATA LAUNCHES 2017 NATIONAL TRUCKING INDUSTRY AWARDS

The ATA is calling for nominations for the 2017 National Trucking Industry Awards.

These prestigious awards acknowledge the achievements of individuals and organisations in all fields of endeavour throughout the trucking industry.

The awards now open for nominations are:

  • Outstanding Contribution to the Trucking Industry
  • National Trucking Industry Woman of the Year
  • National Professional Driver of the Year
  • National Training Excellence Award

“I urge anyone who knows of an exceptional member of the trucking industry to come forward and nominate them for an appropriate award. In particular I encourage all of the ATA’s state and sector associations to nominate those unsung hard-working individuals that I am sure you all know,” ATA CEO, Ben Maguire said.

“These awards recognise people and businesses who make a significant and positive impact on the trucking industry. This country runs on trucks, and we wouldn’t be able to operate efficiently if not for the hard work and dedication of people who go the extra mile to make sure Australia’s goods are moved in a safe and professional manner,” Mr Maguire said.

The awards will be presented at Trucking Australia 2017 — 21-23 June — at the Darwin Convention Centre during the Gala Dinner on the ATA Foundation Sponsors Day, 23 June.

The Don Watson Memorial Award and the TruckSafe John Kelly Memorial Award, will also be presented on the night.