Important upgrades to rest area facilities for heavy vehicle industry operators are now underway across 13 locations in Western Australia, as part of the $50 million Freight Vehicle Productivity Improvement Program.
The $50 million program, jointly funded by the Commonwealth and State Government, includes improvements that will allow for safer turning movements, improvements to parking and breakdown areas for combination vehicles reducing noise and dust, and the construction of ablution blocks at some locations.
Phase 1 of the program, includes a $20 million investment across 13 locations in the Pilbara, Mid-West, Wheatbelt, Goldfields and South-West regions.
Work recently commenced at the heavy vehicle rest area in Munjina adjacent to the Auski-Munjina Roadhouse and Accommodation and includes the sealing of the rest of the area and improved access for heavy vehicles.
Work will progressively commence on each of the 13 locations below over the next six months, with all improvements due for completion in late 2022:
Pilbara
- Marble Bar Road - Minor rest area improvements, construct ablution block ($170,000)
- Great Northern Highway at Karijini Drive - Upgrade rest area, construct ablution block ($1.2 million)
- Great Northern Highway at Bell Street - Minor Road Train Assembly Area improvements, construct ablution block ($280,000)
- Great Northern Highway, Newman - Construct new Road Train Assembly Area and ablution block ($12.2 million)
- Great Northern Highway, Munjina - Construct new rest area ($3.4 million)
- Great Northern Highway, Redmont - Minor rest area improvements, construct ablution block ($170,000)
Mid-West and Gascoyne
- Great Northern Highway, Wubin - Minor rest area improvements, construct ablution block ($200,000)
- Great Northern Highway 115 kilometres north of Wubin - Minor rest area improvements, construct ablution block ($200,000)
- North West Coastal Highway, Northampton - Minor rest area improvements, construct ablution block ($200,000)
- Minilya Exmouth Road - Minor rest area improvements, construct shower and ablution block ($400,000)
Wheatbelt
- Great Eastern Highway, Northam - Minor Road Train Assembly Area improvements, construct ablution block ($100,000)
Goldfields Esperance
- Main Reef Road (Goldfields Highway), Leonora - Extend Road Train Assembly Area, construct ablution block ($1.6 million)
South-West
- Willinge Drive, Bunbury - Minor Road Train Assembly Area improvements, construct ablution block ($200,000)
These priority projects were identified through extensive consultation with peak industry groups, including Transport Workers Union (WA Branch), Livestock and Rural Transport Association of WA and Western Roads Federation.
The 2022-23 program is also being developed through consultation with industry and will continue to be developed to ensure the appropriate priority areas for drivers are identified for forward works planning.
As stated by Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
"Our freight drivers in WA provide an essential service and are key for delivering critical supplies across the country.
"Our engagement with the transport industry has helped WA achieve outcomes that are often the envy of our Eastern State counterparts and providing these much needed amenities and facilities in regional WA will only make it that much easier for our freight drivers.
"The Heavy Vehicle Industry has advocated for all needs to be addressed in one place creating a 'one stop' approach, and we are delivering these improvements to support road safety and provide greater opportunities for heavy vehicle operators to utilise as part of their fatigue management."
