Improving stakeholders’ collaboration to maximise funding programs and heavy vehicle productivity schemes was the major agenda at the Livestock and Bulk Carriers Association’s (LBCA) heavy-vehicle forum in Temora on Friday, September 16.
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More than 100 stakeholders in the regional and rural freight task attended, including about 80 from councils, NSW government officials and transport representatives.
While recognising past milestones, LBCA president Lynley Miners said all parties need to continue collaborating to achieve more.
“In some cases it takes patience and more effort from all involved. Ask those councils who received significant money from ‘Fixing Country Roads’ if it was worth it? My money says yes because if those stakeholders did not work together, their projects would not have been funded,” he said.
Mr Miners said the number of council representatives from all over NSW highlights their interests to support the heavy vehicle industry.
Kevin Anderson, parliamentary secretary to the deputy premier and for regional roads and rail, said the collaboration between industry and governments is paramount.
“The NSW Government is committed to working with LBCA and industry to balance the need for a thriving road-freight sector,” he said.
The major funding programs Mr Anderson discussed were the NSW Government’s ‘Fixing Country Truck Washes’ and ‘Fixing Country Roads’ programs to support councils’ development projects.
The most recent country roads program, which LBCA supported, funded road upgrade projects in Walcha, Tamworth, Boorowa, Lockhart and Parkes Council areas.
The NSW Government has introduced other productivity schemes to support the industry, including the ‘Bridges for the Bush’ program.
Mr Anderson said the $145 million ‘Bridges for the Bush’ program “will result in replacing or upgrading 17 bridges during the next five years, which will enhance freight productivity and save NSW more than $200 million in economic, social and environmental costs in the next 30 years”.
As evidence of effective collaboration, general manager of Coolamon Shire Council Tony Donoghue presented the upgrade of access to the Ardlethan grain facility as a result of working with industry, state government, community and Graincorp and Emerald Grain.
The forum also involved discussion about the opportunities in the rural freight industry, including actions for the LBCA to follow up — from access for low-volume roads, GHMS, LLS and many more.
