Truckies who travel along the highway between Camooweal in Queensland and Barkly Homestead in the Northern Territory want more rest areas with toilets.
Spy hears the only solution some hygiene-conscious drivers have when they urgently require a “number two” is to carry a shovel.
This is a 267km stretch of the Barkly Highway and while there are pull-over areas, ones with toilets are scarce.
It is 75km from Camooweal in Queensland over the NT border.
One driver sent Spy a pic of a pull-off area which is located 5km from Avon Downs along the route.
“You can pull over and park and if you need a piddle you have to do it over near the scrub which has been mowed at the moment,” he said.
The driver added that he had heard of other truckies who urgently required a number two.
“One told me he carries a shovel in his truck and buries the human waste and paper so others don’t face a smell or insects and vermin such as rats,” he said.
Apparently there is one rest area with a toilet which is frequented by caravans.
“Trucks can never get a parking space there,” he said.
There are also no fuel stops between Camooweal and the homestead.
Could one suggest that these drivers call a “spade a shovel” or are they just wasting their time.
One can only ponder if this is also the case at many other locations around Australia.
In a bid to “dig out” an answer, Spy seeks feedback from other drivers on the subject.
Thank you for the opportunity to leave comment.
Although now retired, I still enjoy driving and still hold an HR Licence ( but don’t really need it now).
Having travelled and driven enormous distances throughout Australia I continue to be appalled at the lack of provision, in all states, of rest stops _ and many of the existing ones lack toilet facilities. I applaud your highlighting of the matter and hope that all states will make a greater effort to make such facilities available on long-haul highways.