RTA STRATEGY FOR MAJOR HEAVY VEHICLE REST AREAS ON KEY RURAL FREIGHT ROUTES IN NSW JANUARY 2010 This page has been left blank intentionally RTA/Pub. 10.012 ISBN 978-1-921692-69-7 Contents 1. Introduction........................................................................................................................................................................................................1 2. Objectives ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................2 3. Methodology .....................................................................................................................................................................................................2 4. Key rural freight routes in NSW............................................................................................................................................................3 5. Major heavy vehicle rest areas principles.........................................................................................................................................3 6. Targeted level of provision for major heavy rest areas...........................................................................................................4 7. Strategy to address gaps and enhance provision.........................................................................................................................5 8. Summary of overall needs.........................................................................................................................................................................5 9. Implementation................................................................................................................................................................................................6 Detailed route strategies ........................................................................................................................................................................................8 Pacific Highway – Northbound (790km)................................................................................................................................................9 Pacific Highway – Southbound (790km)..............................................................................................................................................10 Hume Highway – Northbound (498km) ............................................................................................................................................13 Hume Highway – Southbound (498km) .............................................................................................................................................15 Great Western Highway/Mitchell Highway (Nepean River to Dubbo) – Westbound (348km)....................19 Great Western Highway/Mitchell Highway – Eastbound (348km)....................................................................................20 Mitchell Highway/Barrier Highway – Westbound and eastbound (827km) ..................................................................23 Sturt Highway – Westbound & Eastbound (614km)...................................................................................................................27 Newell Highway – Northbound (1060km)........................................................................................................................................31 Newell Highway – Southbound (1060km) ........................................................................................................................................34 New England Highway – Northbound and Southbound (585km) .....................................................................................39 Princes Highway – Southbound (484km)............................................................................................................................................43 Princes Highway – Northbound (484km)...........................................................................................................................................43 Golden Highway – Westbound & Eastbound (314km).............................................................................................................47 Cover photograph: "Station creek" rest area north of Karuah, Pacific Highway, NSW This page has been left blank intentionally 1. Introduction The RTA’s Blueprint - Corporate Plan 2008-2012 provides an overview of the RTA’s priorities for the shorter term. The focus areas for the plan include: • Improving road safety; • Managing rural and regional roads; and • Transporting freight. The provision of heavy vehicle rest areas on key rural freight routes contributes to all three of these focus areas. Transporting freight by road is a key element of the NSW economy and the RTA seeks to support this industry for the benefit of the community. In transporting freight by road some heavy vehicle operators are required to drive for extended periods. Fatigue is a recognised workplace safety issue for many truck drivers. Heavy vehicle driver fatigue has been identified as a contributor to road crashes and presents a safety risk to all road users. The RTA, in partnership with the heavy vehicle industry, is working on various strategies to manage heavy vehicle driver fatigue. The provision of rest opportunities for heavy vehicle drivers is a key element of these strategies. Rest areas are used by heavy vehicle drivers to take long and short rest breaks, use amenities and check loads and vehicles. Heavy vehicle drivers must conform to fatigue management legislation that specifies strict resting requirements. In order to fulfil these requirements they require suitable rest area facilities that are regularly spaced along key freight routes. In 2005, the National Transport Commission released the National Guidelines for the Provision of Rest Area Facilities (NTC Guidelines). The RTA has adopted these Guidelines as a basis for working towards enhancing the provision of rest area facilities for heavy vehicle drivers on key national freight routes in NSW. The NTC Guidelines acknowledge that currently available facilities reflect past efforts of rest area provision. Consequently, they do not always meet the current needs of heavy vehicle drivers in Australia. The Audit of Rest Areas against National Guidelines (Austroads 2006) highlights that many freight routes across Australia have deficiencies in the provision of rest areas. Many of these freight routes are in NSW. New heavy vehicle driver fatigue laws became effective on 29 September 2008 in NSW, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia. The new laws set revised work and rest limits for heavy vehicle drivers and assign legal responsibility to all parties in the supply chain to better manage driver fatigue. The reforms are consistent with current obligations under occupational health and safety law that requires employers and employees take all reasonably practicable steps to manage driver fatigue. 1 2. Objectives The objectives of this strategy are to: • Address the need for heavy vehicle drivers to take rest breaks on key rural freight routes in NSW recognising the road is an integral part of their workplace. • Develop a network of major heavy vehicle rest areas on key rural freight routes in NSW with required amenities to ensure that heavy vehicle drivers are well rested, particularly on longer journeys. • Assist heavy vehicle drivers to comply with the recently introduced fatigue legislation by enhancing the provision of major heavy vehicle rest areas in NSW. • Reduce the proportion of road accidents in NSW involving heavy vehicles by assisting in the management of heavy vehicle driver fatigue. 3. Methodology The methodology for developing this strategy included the following tasks: 1. Review of existing information, guidelines, audits, strategies relevant to the provision of rest areas in NSW and nationally. 2. Define the scope of the strategy which was deliberately focused on the provision of “major rest areas” as defined in the NTC Guidelines for heavy vehicle drivers on “key freight routes in rural NSW”. 3. Develop the RTA’s Guidelines for Provision of Major Heavy Vehicle Rest Areas consistent with NTC Guidelines. 4. Assess existing levels of provision and gaps in provision on each key freight route in NSW using the RTA’s Guidelines. 5. Identify actions to fill gaps in provision with new and upgraded rest areas and strategically cost these. 2 4. Key rural freight routes in NSW This strategy applies to a network of more than 5,500km of rural road designated as key freight routes in NSW, being: • Pacific Highway (Hawkesbury River to QLD border) • Hume Highway (Narellan Rd to Vic border) • Great Western Highway /Mitchell Highway (Nepean River to Dubbo) • Mitchell Highway/Barrier Highway (Dubbo to SA border) • Sturt Highway (Wentworth to Wagga Wagga) • Newell Highway (Vic to QLD borders) • New England Highway (Newcastle to QLD border) • Princes Highway (Engadine to Vic border) • Golden Highway (New England Highway to Dubbo) 5. Major heavy vehicle rest areas principles This strategy addresses enhancing the provision of major heavy vehicle rest areas which are defined in the NTC Guidelines as areas that are designated for long rest breaks offering a range of facilities to take rest and sleep breaks. In line with the NTC Guidelines