NSW fleet operators are calling for direct financial support from the state government for freight operators facing mounting costs as a result of the ongoing closure of the Great Western Highway at Victoria Pass.
CEO and Managing Director of Vellex Group of Companies Austin Vella said the major highway closure was adding a minimum of $120 to every one-way semi-trailer trip.
“This is at a minimum, and if you include the additional wear and tear on the vehicle and the driver, everything comes at a cost,” said Vella, who is also the Chairman of Road Freight New South Wales (RFNSW).
“We are having a bloody tough time at the moment. Life on the road is hard enough and we need to make it simpler for everyone.”
Vella said assistance for road freight fleets in the form of a stimulus payment would make operating a lot less stressful.
“Right now people are receiving their goods and everything seems fine, but the industry is heading in the wrong direction – and we cannot make a living with all our overhead costs.”
The owner of Morris Bulk Haulage, Marty Morris, told The Daily Telegraph businesses are left to deal with “dangerous and frustrating” detour routes.
“We have had truck breakdowns and, in one instance, a tyre came off a ute, hit our truck and caused a breakdown and a one-hour delay,” Morris said.
RFNSW CEO Simon O’Hara said trucking businesses were spending hundreds of dollars more on individual trips due to lengthy detours, increased fuel use, additional driver hours and higher operating costs.
“Freight operators have no choice but to keep moving,” he said.
“They’re delivering essential goods, servicing regional communities and keeping supply chains running, but they’re doing it at a significant additional cost to their operations.
“Many operators are now spending hundreds of extra dollars every time a truck is sent across the mountains.”
RFNSW welcomed the NSW Government’s support package for small businesses announced by Minister for Small Business Janelle Saffin, but said grants of up to $10,000 would not reflect the losses being experienced by many transport operators.
“The package acknowledges the impact the closure is having on local small businesses, but many freight businesses are not local, yet impacted severely by this closure and for them, the costs have already far exceeded $10,000,” O’Hara said.
“If funding is limited, there is a reasonable argument for ensuring additional support is directed to those businesses experiencing the greatest financial impact.”
O’Hara said the ongoing disruption reinforced RFNSW’s call for the NSW and federal governments to work together on both immediate support measures and long-term freight resilience.
“RFNSW again calls on the NSW and federal governments to work together on a long-term solution, including progressing a second crossing and putting all viable options back on the table.”
He said Transport for NSW (TfNSW) figures show more than 11,400 vehicles travel through Mount Victoria each day, with heavy vehicles making up 22 per cent of traffic.
“Those numbers highlight just how important this corridor is to freight, industry and regional communities,” O’Hara said.
“Governments cannot continue to treat the Great Western Highway as a local issue – it requires a coordinated commitment from both the NSW and Australian governments to deliver the long-term infrastructure the state needs.”
A TfNSW spokesperson said the department acknowledges the impact on the freight industry due to the closure of Victoria Pass on the Great Western Highway.
After feedback from industry, the spokesperson said TfNSW had worked with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator to provide adjustments to legislation, to support freight detours.
“Transport also continues to work closely with industry to coordinate Oversize Over Mass vehicle movements that originate or terminate within the detour route,” the spokesperson told Big Rigs.
“We are working to support movements across the detour routes, including a heavy vehicle tow truck on standby at Scenic Hill to ensure any incidents are cleared quickly.”
The spokesperson said TfNSW had facilitated more than 120 heavy vehicles tows up Scenic Hill since the Great Western Highway detour route has been implemented.
Transport has facilitated more than 115 planned Oversize Over Mass (OSOM) movements on the detour route since the closure of Victoria Pass.
“Furthermore, we are improving rest stops, including a heavy vehicle-only parking bay on the Bells Line of Road which has reopened to offer an extra option for truck drivers to take a break.”
TfNSW said it has shortlisted two consortia led by Gamuda and Seymour Whyte to develop and deliver a solution to restore access to Mitchells Causeway.
Early preparation is already underway at Mitchells Causeway with a preferred solution is expected to be confirmed and shared with the community before the end of June.