Truckies in Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania are the first to benefit from upgrades under the $140 million Heavy Vehicle Rest Areas Program.
After months of deliberation – the funding was a Labor pledge leading into the May 2022 federal election – the Australian Government has announced four regions to share in the first tranche of $6.7 million.
In Queensland, the rest area facility at the eastern approach to Roma on the Warrego Highway will be upgraded with $1.12 million and $280,000 from the Maranoa Regional Council.
In Tasmania, the truck stop upgrade on Glenstone Road/Strong Street at Bridgewater will be funded with $360,000 from the Australian Government and $90,000 from Brighton Council.
In South Australia, the $3.8 million Salt Creek Rest Area project will deliver five parking bays, a unisex toilet block, a metal shade structure and picnic tables.
The federal government is providing $3.04 million for this project while the state government is chipping in $760,000.
In Victoria, 35 truck informal rest areas (TIRAs) will be sealed and green reflectors installed on four highways within Gippsland, with $2.168 million from Canberra and $542,000 from the Victorian Government.
Under the initiative, state governments and local councils are eligible to apply for Australian Government funding of up to $5 million per project.
Projects must be co-funded, with the Australian Government providing up to 80 per cent of costs for projects in regional areas, and up to 50 per cent of costs for projects in urban areas.
“We want to support our hard-working truck drivers to rest when they need to and keep freight moving safely and that’s why this government supporting new and upgraded heavy vehicle rest areas,” said Federal Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Carol Brown.
“I thank the chair of the HVRA Steering Committee Glenn Sterle, and the HVRA Steering Committee members for sharing their time and experience to assess the strategic need criterion and look forward to their contribution in assessing the same criterion in the next tranche.”
A steering committee has been established to ensure the road transport industry and drivers have a voice in the project designs under the initiative.
Big Rigs understands that a second tranche of spending will be announced soon.