The WA Government has announced measures to help the state’s transport and aviation industries to reduce costs and keep the west moving as global fuel security challenges continue.
As well as increasing support to regional airlines and their passengers, the Government is also permitting larger road trains to travel closer to Perth along Great Northern Highway for a three-month trial.
Under the changes, 53.5-metre triple-trailer road trains will be permitted to travel along the highway between Wubin and Muchea with strict safety conditions for the vehicle. Drivers will be required to have a minimum of three years’ experience driving vehicles of this length.
Triple-trailer road trains are currently not permitted to travel further south than Wubin when travelling into Perth, before needing to be broken down into smaller double-trailer road trains.
These changes will help improve productivity and reduce truck movements along this key route connecting Perth to the Wheatbelt, Murchison, Goldfields, Pilbara and Kimberley regions.
The trial will not only improve freight efficiency by helping to get more equipment, food and supplies to communities and industries in the north of the state but will help operators use less fuel by using bigger trucks to reduce overall truck movements.
These changes follow a recent decision by the WA Government to permit 27.5-metre and 36.5-metre road trains to transport up to an additional 10 tonnes per load if they are carrying petrol, diesel and/or fertiliser to certain priority regions.
The Industry Support Working Group, chaired by Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti, is continuing to work with the freight industry to encourage the use of more electric trucks across the network as well as consulting with the dairy industry to identify opportunities for practical support measures.
Premier Roger Cook says the Government is committed to supporting Western Australia’s transport and aviation industries as global fuel security challenges continue.
“Ensuring airfares remain capped at current prices for regional residents will provide real cost-of-living support for those who need it, while allowing larger road trains along a key stretch of Great Northern Highway will help more goods reach regional WA faster,” he says.
“We will continue to work with the transport industry to support their operations and help maintain WA’s supply chain resilience.”
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