Since launching a campaign last year to help clean up roadhouses and truck stops for truckies, WA Labor Senator Glenn Sterle says the efforts have resulted in improved conditions at 60 sites – and counting.
The former truckie started the campaign in August 2021. The pandemonium that had been brought on by the Covid pandemic resulted in truckies being locked out of roadhouses and refused access to toilets and showers.
Though access to facilities had by this stage been restored, Sterle said, “It’s time they were cleaned up.”
Sterle receives photos and messages from truckies about the poor conditions of roadhouses on a daily basis – and he’s been liaising with the service stations in question to help get these issues addressed.
“I am proud to announce that since the beginning of my campaign last year to clean up road houses and service stations for truck drivers, we have managed to resolve issues and get conditions improved for truckies at more than 60 sites around the country,” Sterle said.
“I want to sincerely thank all of the drivers who have worked with me to raise these queries and the service station managers and operators for their cooperation in responding to them.”
He added that BP was actively working with his office to respond to complaints about their sites.
In WA, updates include the BP truck stop on Abernethy Road in Kewdale, where issues raised about the quality of food led to the hiring of a new cook; BP’s Capricorn site has had blocked toilets and out of order showers fixed; the BP truck stop in Kalgoorlie has begun trading 24/7, with staff shortages regarding cooks currently being addressed.
BP is also working on improving parking permit systems, replacing showers and updating amenities at stops in Victoria (including Epping, Fitzgerald Road and Truganina) and NSW (Beresfield, Muswellbrook and Eastern Creek).