Trucks parked at the Partridge VC heavy vehicle rest area at Menangle, south of Sydney. Photo: NSW Govt
Truck drivers in western Sydney will soon get their first dedicated heavy vehicle rest area with a 6ha site identified at Eastern Creek.
The federal and NSW government will each spend $40 million on turning the greenfield site into a rest stop for truck drivers travelling between Pheasants Nest (south of Sydney) and Wyong (to the north); a gap of 180 kilometres or a drive time of nearly two hours.
The site is five minutes from the M7 and 10 minutes from the M4 and will be of particular benefit to interstate freight drivers travelling from Victoria to Queensland.
The NSW Government says a survey of 800 truckies (mostly long-haul B-double and semi-trailer drivers) found safety, security and gender separate toilet and shower facilities topped their concerns.
The rest area will provide flushing toilets, clean drinking water, hot showers, parking with secluded bays for sleeping, and shaded outdoor areas.
The new oversize-overmass rest stop will cater for different vehicle types.
Federal Transport Minister Catherine King says providing heavy vehicle rest areas is critical to the safety of truckies.
“We’ve listened to our truck drivers, and will deliver what they’ve asked for – shelter, toilets, hot showers, drinking water, shade and bays to sleep,” she says.
“Availability of adequate rest areas helps truckies to better manage fatigue and avoid incidents on the road, ultimately saving lives.”
NSW Transport Minister John Graham says Sydney has a reputation for being Australia’s least friendly city for truck drivers.
“We are changing that. Truckies are the backbone of our economy, and they deserve a place in Sydney to rest and recharge.”
Federal MP for McMahon Chris Bowen says the Eastern Creek industrial complex is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere.
“That requires measures to ensure that local truckies stay safe when delivering for our community,” he says.
ROAD FRIEGHT NSW REACTION
Road Freight NSW (RFNSW) welcomed the announcement.
“This is great news …,” RFNSW chief executive officer Simon O’Hara says.
“A truck stop like this, in a strategic location close to busy motorways, is critical for long-haul drivers to better manage fatigue and do their job safely …”
He says they are pleased by plans for gender separate toilet and shower facilities.
“As we continue to experience labour shortages across the freight industry, not only do we need to retain our current workforce but we need to recruit more young people, particularly women into our ranks,” O’Hara says.
“That’s why it’s imperative that we make the industry attractive for new talent. Providing long-haul drivers with high-quality truck stops, where they can get appropriate rest and sleep, with separate clean, facilities for female drivers, is a must.”
