Truckies’ tireless campaigner Wes Walker is back on the warpath.
This time the Queensland advocate for drivers’ rights, famous for his long and successful fight for truckies’ toilets at the Gatton pads, has his sights set on a similar site at Roma.
It’s almost 12 months ago to the day that he lodged an official complaint with WorkSafe Queensland about the lack of lighting and security on the busy site – but there’s still no progress on a fix for the area that’s twice the size of Gatton.
“TMR rang me and said they haven’t got any money to do it,” Walker said.
“But it comes under Work, Health and Safety. They’re working with no lights, and this is how I pushed it [the toilets] through at Gatton.
“If it was a private facility you would have to have toilets and Worksafe Queensland agreed with me.
“But no, they [the Queensland Government] just want to spend billions on the Olympics.”
Walker said he wants to also see the sealing cover the entire site, and permanent security cameras installed to improve driver safety.
“They’ve got that portable one but I could push that over with my penis, and it can’t cover the whole facility. I also told TMR that I’m also going to go ahead and campaign to finish the other half that isn’t bitumen.
“Under WorkSafe Queensland, when it rains, hails and snows, and all the trucks take all the mud out on to the major highway, it’s a safety hazard for the general public.
“TMR then told me that they shouldn’t be parking there, it’s not a parking area.”
Maranoa Regional Council told Big Rigs it is an advocate for works to be done to the breakdown pad and had placed temporary security cameras with a three-month permit last year when the issue was raised.
But added that ultimately, the breakdown pad is a TMR-owned facility and project and all inquiries along those lines need to be directed their way.
A Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) spokesperson told Big Rigs it will be investigating improvements for the Roma breakdown facility.
“As part of its investigations, we will consider the need for infrastructure improvements at the facility, including lighting,” the spokesperson said.
“These investigations will assist us with prioritising funding for design and construction of the recommended infrastructure at the facility.”
TMR said it installs CCTV cameras on the state-controlled road network where there is a traffic management requirement.
“At this point in time, TMR is not aware of any traffic management issues at the facility that would warrant the installation of CCTV cameras.
“TMR encourages operators to undertake all activities at the facility in line with safe working practices.”
arguing that the lack of full bitumen seal creates a road hazard to the public he might get somewhere.
its rediculous that areas of a drivers workplace are unsafe. if it was private property the owners/operators of the site would be made to improve it or be fined heavily by whsq. yet the dept of main roads and councils dont have to meet the same standards.