Operators seeking access to non-gazetted roads in the Bundaberg Regional Council area will now face additional route assessment charges: $400 for a new application, $250 for a renewal and $900 for an urgent assessment.
While Section 159 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law allows road managers to charge for assessments, industry experts warn that applying these fees risks damaging the very industries councils rely on – and neighbouring regions that depend on Bundaberg as a freight gateway.
Smedley’s Engineers Managing Director Robert Smedley says the decision could have far-reaching consequences.
“The introduction of these fees by the Bundaberg Regional Council will hit operators hard and, by extension, impact critical industries like agriculture, forestry, fishing, manufacturing and construction,” he says.
Smedley notes that Bundaberg sits on one of Queensland’s main heavy vehicle arterials, supplying goods to far north and north-west regions. Neighbouring communities such as South Burnett rely entirely on heavy vehicles to transport goods in and out – rail infrastructure is not available, he notes.
These regions depend on operators having access through Bundaberg, meaning additional fees will not only raise costs locally but also flow on to communities further afield, Smedley suggests.
In addition, he says PBS (Performance-Based Standards) vehicles, which make up a growing portion of modern heavy fleets, are independently proven to improve safety outcomes, reduce pavement wear, and deliver significant environmental benefits through lower fuel use and reduced emissions.
Rather than creating financial barriers, road managers are encouraged to support and incentivise these vehicle types given their community-wide benefits, Smedley points out.
By contrast, he says other local governments have demonstrated strong support for the freight industry.
Moree Plains Shire Council (MPSC), for example, has a long history of investing in freight infrastructure and engaging with industry stakeholders through forums that include the Farmer’s Federation, NHVR and Police.
MPSC Asset Engineer Simon Jackson reaffirms this stance. “The Moree Plains Shire is a rich and productive agricultural shire where heavy vehicle transport is a key factor in maintaining its productivity.
“The Council’s support for the industry has not changed – it remains vital to our prosperity,” he adds.
South Burnett Regional Council has also adopted a more collaborative approach, focusing on operator needs rather than imposing additional barriers, Smedley notes.
“Both South Burnett and Moree Plains share much of the same key industries, and without trucks their local economies simply stop,” he says.
“If additional fees like those introduced in Bundaberg were adopted nationally, the impact would extend far beyond operators – delaying freight, increasing costs for households and businesses, reducing employment opportunities, and straining relationships between councils and industry.
“Such charges also undermine the State Government’s stated objective of encouraging rural prosperity.”
Smedley contends councils need to take a more collaborative approach.
“Local governments should be working with operators to keep freight moving, not putting up financial roadblocks that slow entire communities,” he says.