Proposed Pre-Approval Framework for Over-Dimension Agricultural Vehicle Movements AUTHOR Principal Engineer - Transport Planning (David Hood)
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Toowoomba Regional Council Infrastructure Committee 10 October 2017 Item No. 02 Item No. 02 REPORT TITLE Proposed Pre-Approval Framework for Over-Dimension Agricultural Vehicle Movements AUTHOR Principal Engineer - Transport Planning (David Hood) PURPOSE OF REPORT To seek Council’s endorsement of a framework under which Council could ‘pre-approve’ the issue of a permit for the movement of wide agricultural vehicles on Council-controlled roads, in appropriate circumstances. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY At its Ordinary Meeting on 17 November 2015 (Infrastructure Committee - 10 November 2015 - Item 01), Council endorsed a number of initiatives to facilitate more efficient agricultural and transport logistics outcomes within and beyond the Toowoomba and Western Downs Regional Council (WDRC) local government areas. One of these initiatives was the establishment of an Agricultural Transport and Logistics Working Group to investigate a range of short, medium and longer-term measures arising from the Agricultural Freight Industry Workshop held on 2 October 2015. The Group was established and its inaugural meeting was held on 9 March 2016. Since that time, Council has implemented the endorsed short-term initiatives for heavy vehicle logistics, by extending the operating hours and permit durations and standardising speed limits for multi-combination vehicles permits issued within the Toowoomba Region. WDRC have also implemented similar initiatives. In relation to agricultural transport, this report seeks Council endorsement of a framework, recommended by the Agricultural Transport and Logistics Working Group Meeting of 28 August 2017, for Council to ‘pre-approve’ the granting of permits for the movement of over-dimension agricultural vehicles in appropriate circumstances, including the ‘pre-approval’ conditions and the proposed administrative arrangements around issuing permits of this type. RECOMMENDATION That the Chief Executive Officer be authorised to negotiate, finalise and implement the proposed framework as outlined in the report included in Attachment 2 ‘Proposed Pre-Approval Conditions for Over-Dimension Agricultural Vehicles Using the Local Government Controlled Road Network - September 2017 (Toowoomba Regional Council),’ to come into effect on 1 February 2018. REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION To enable and support the economic development of the region through enhancing the efficiency of agricultural over-dimension vehicle movements, while managing the safety and other impacts on rural road users. Page 1 of 4 Toowoomba Regional Council Infrastructure Committee 10 October 2017 Item No. 02 COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION That the Chief Executive Officer be authorised to negotiate, finalise and implement the proposed framework as outlined in the report included in Attachment 2 ‘Proposed Pre-Approval Conditions for Over-Dimension Agricultural Vehicles Using the Local Government Controlled Road Network - September 2017 (Toowoomba Regional Council),’ to come into effect on 1 February 2018. COUNCIL DECISION - 17 October 2017 (Infrastructure Committee - 10 October 2017 - Item No. 02) Committee Recommendation adopted by Council at its Ordinary Meeting of 17 October 2017. ACTION TO BE TAKEN Item Action Officer Action No. 02 David Hood Please instigate all follow up action from Council's decision. Page 2 of 4 Toowoomba Regional Council Infrastructure Committee 10 October 2017 Item No. 02 CORPORATE PLAN REFERENCE 5.1.2 - Ensure the provision and management of infrastructure and assets meet the needs and priorities of Council, the community and industry. 5.1.4 - Plan and deliver a safe, sustainable and efficient road network. 7.2.1 - Continually review and enhance service delivery to ensure Council's responsiveness to customer and community expectations. 7.2.2 - Work collaboratively across Council to provide effective, efficient and coordinated outcomes. BACKGROUND At its Ordinary Meeting on 17 November 2015 (Infrastructure Committee - 10 November 2015 - Item 01), Council endorsed a number of initiatives to facilitate more efficient agricultural and transport logistics outcomes within and beyond the Toowoomba and Western Downs Regional Council local government areas. A copy of the report presented to Council in November 2015 is Attachment 1. One of the initiatives was to establish an Agricultural Transport and Logistics Working Group to investigate a range of short, medium and longer-term measures arising from the Agricultural Freight Industry Workshop held on 2 October 2015. The Group was established and its inaugural meeting was held on 9 March 2016. Extensive work has been undertaken with industry and regulatory representatives in relation to a pre-approval framework for the movement of over-dimension agricultural vehicles. Further detailed background and proposed operational conditions are included in Attachment 2, which presents a recommended approval mechanism and proposes ‘pre-approval conditions’ for the granting of permits under section 4.2.4 of the ‘Guidelines for Excess Dimension’ Agricultural Vehicles and Agricultural Combinations - Form 14, Version 4, October 2013 for Minor Roads, that are maintained roads falling under the jurisdiction of Toowoomba Regional Council or WDRC. CONSULTATION UNDERTAKEN This proposal has been the joint work of relevant members of the Agricultural Transport and Logistics Working Group. As such it represents a general consensus of all parties associated with the movement of over-dimension agricultural vehicles, and at the Working Group Meeting of 28 August 2017, the proposed framework was recommended for endorsement by both Toowoomba Regional Council and Western Downs Regional Council. An Information Session on this matter was held with Councillors on 3 October 2017. ISSUES, RISKS AND RESPONSES The current Department of Transport and Main Roads’ Form 14 does not cover the movement of agricultural vehicles wider than 5m on either the declared or local government road networks. Due to the uncertainty and timeframes associated with permit approvals, it is thought that numbers of movements wider than 5m could be occurring without permits being sought. This is of concern to industry, regulators and road authorities alike. One of the main drivers behind the development of this framework is to encourage users to apply for permits wider than covered under Form 14, with clarity and certainty as to what conditions would be applied to those permits. Page 3 of 4 Toowoomba Regional Council Infrastructure Committee 10 October 2017 Item No. 02 There are no recorded incidents on Council’s road network involving over-dimension agricultural vehicles. FINANCIAL / RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS There are minimal financial and resource implications associated with implementing the recommendations contained within this report. The number of permit applications for over- dimension agricultural vehicles is currently very small. Under the pre-approval framework, there would continue to be minimal administrative effort on behalf of Council in relation to issuing permits, apart from periodic review of the framework itself. CONCLUSION The recommendations contained in this report would deliver one of the significant medium-term objectives of Council’s decision of November 2015 for the agricultural sector. Work on the remaining medium and longer-term objectives is continuing. ATTACHMENTS Attachment 1 of 2 Council report ‘Outcomes from the Agriculture Freight Industry Workshop’, November 2015 Attachment 2 of 2 Proposed pre-approval conditions for over-dimension agricultural vehicles using the local government controlled road network - September 2017 (Toowoomba Regional Council) Page 4 of 4 Attachment 2 Proposed pre-approval framework for over-dimension agricultural vehicle movements on the local government controlled road network – September 2017 (Toowoomba Regional Council) Executive Summary This report presents a recommended approval mechanism and proposes ‘pre-approval conditions’ for the granting of permits under section 4.2.4 of the ‘Guidelines for Excess Dimension’ Agricultural Vehicles and Agricultural Combinations – Form 14, Version 4, October 2013 for Minor Roads that are maintained roads falling under the jurisdiction of Toowoomba Regional Council or Western Downs Regional Council. Purpose The purpose of this document is to record: (a) issues raised by members of the agricultural Transport and Logistics Working Group through its deliberations; and (b) the proposed solutions tabled at the August 2017 meeting of the Group (as modified following discussion at the meeting about the proposed pre-approval conditions for access to the minor road network for agricultural vehicles wider than 5.0 metres). Background Currently, agricultural vehicles that do not comply with the Transport Operations (Road Use Management - Mass, Dimensions and Loading) Regulation 2005, Part 3, may be able to access the road network in Queensland through a method of alternative compliance known as the ‘Guideline for Excess Dimension, Agricultural Vehicles and Agricultural Combinations, Vehicles and Drivers, Form 14 V4 Transport and Main Roads, October 2013’ (Form 14). Form 14 specifies access conditions for agricultural vehicles up to 5.0 metres wide for the purpose of crossing or travelling along a road. Where an agricultural vehicle exceeds the maximum dimension limits specified in Form 14, movement may be effected where an alternative authority approval is obtained. The Agricultural Transport and Logistics Working Group received representation from several peak bodies, including