Heavy Vehicle National Law - South Australia Class 1 Agricultural Vehicle Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1)

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Legislation au C2019G00114 In force Gazette

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HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

South Australia Class 1 Agricultural Vehicle Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1)

 

  1. Purpose

 

1)      This Notice provides access for tractors used for agricultural purposes, agricultural machines, agricultural machines towing agricultural implements and agricultural combinations which exceed regulation dimensions to travel on roads in South Australia subject to the conditions specified in this Notice.

 

2)      This Notice works in conjunction with the Code of Practice for Oversize or Overmass Agricultural Vehicles (The Code), published on the National Heavy Vehicle Regulators (NHVR’s) website.

Note: This notice replaces the Notice of Approval and Exemption for Oversize or Overmass Agricultural Vehicles Driven on Roads, published in the South Australian Government Gazette.

2.       Authorising Provision

 

This notice is made under Section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), and s169 of the Heavy Vehicle (General) National Regulation.

 

3.       Commencement

 

This Notice commences on 10 February 2019.

 

4.       Expiry

 

This Notice expires on 9 February 2024.

 

5.       Title

 

This Notice may be cited as the South Australia Class 1 Agricultural Vehicle Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2019.

 


6.       Definitions

 

1)      Unless otherwise stated, words and expressions used in this Notice and in the Code have the same meanings as those defined in the HVNL.

 

2)      In this Notice:-

Code means the Code of Practice for Oversize or Overmass Agricultural Vehicles, produced by the South Australia Government 2008.

 

Note: the Code is available on the NHVR website.

 

Eligible vehicle means tractors used for agricultural purposes, agricultural machines, agricultural machines towing agricultural implements and agricultural combinations.

 

DPTI means the South Australian Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure.

7.       Application

 

This Notice applies to eligible vehicles operating in South Australia.

 

8.       Exemptions - Mass

 

1)      Eligible vehicles operating under this notice are exempt from the following dimension requirements in Schedule 1 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL Regulation):

 

a)      Section 4 Mass Limits for a single axle or axle group

 

9.       Exemptions - Dimension

 

1)      Eligible vehicles operating under this notice are exempt from the following dimension requirements in Schedule 6 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL Regulation)

 

a)      Section 3 – Length

b)      Section 4 – Length (Trailers)

c)       Section 6 – Rear overhang

d)      Section 8 – Width

e)      Section 9 – Height

 


10.   Conditions - Mass

 

1)      An eligible vehicle operating under this notice must comply with all of the conditional mass requirements set out in the Code. Specifically, these are provided in the following sections of the Code:

 

a)      Section 6 - Mass Limits for Singe Axles

 

11.   Conditions - Dimension

 

1)      An eligible vehicle operating under this notice must comply with all of the conditional mass requirements set out in the Code. Specifically, these are provided in the following sections of the Code. Specifically, these are provided in the following sections of the Code:

 

a)      Section 7 - Maximum Heights

b)      Section 8 - Height Restrictions in Optus Clearance Zone.

c)       Sections 18 through to 32 - Height restrictions for Zones of Operation.

 

12.   Condition - Towing Vehicles

 

In relation to s184 of the HVNL, an eligible vehicle operating under this Notice may tow more than one other vehicle.

Note: as a heavy vehicle operating under this Notice is subject to the HVNL, an exemption from any road rules limiting towing is not required dur to the operation of this section.

13.   Conditions – Use of Pilots

 

An eligible vehicle operating under this notice must comply with pilot and escort requirements set out in the Code.

 

14.   Conditions – Times of Travel

 

An eligible vehicle operating under this Notice may operate at night according to the conditions provided under the Information Bulletin – Night Travel for Agricultural Machinery - Approved Council Areas.

Note: the Information Bulletin – Night Travel of Agricultural Machinery- Approved Council Areas is published by DPTI and is available on its website.

 

 

 

 

15.   Exemptions - Vehicle Standards

 

1)      Eligible vehicles operating under this notice are exempt from the following vehicle standards requirements in Schedule 2 of the Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation (VS Regulation), as far as it applies to so far as it relates to tractors or agricultural machines towing an agricultural implement that exceeds 3.5m in width:

 

a)      Section 12 - Rear Vision Mirrors.

 

 

Peter Caprioli

Executive Director (Freight and Supply Chain Productivity)

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator

Overview

The South Australia Class 1 Agricultural Vehicle Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1) was enacted to provide access for certain agricultural vehicles that exceed regulation dimensions to travel on roads in South Australia. This Notice was introduced to address the specific needs of the agricultural industry by offering exemptions from certain mass and dimension requirements, thereby facilitating the movement of essential agricultural machinery. The Notice operates under Section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) and s169 of the Heavy Vehicle (General) National Regulation, with the policy objective being to support the operational efficiency of the agricultural sector while maintaining road safety. The Notice is in conjunction with the Code of Practice for Oversize or Overmass Agricultural Vehicles, which outlines the conditions for compliance and safe operation of these vehicles. The Notice commenced on 10 February 2019 and will expire on 9 February 2024, providing a defined period for its application and review.

Scope and Application

The South Australia Class 1 Agricultural Vehicle Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1) applies to eligible vehicles operating in South Australia, specifically tractors used for agricultural purposes, agricultural machines, agricultural machines towing agricultural implements, and agricultural combinations that exceed regulation dimensions. This Notice, which commenced on 10 February 2019 and expires on 9 February 2024, is made under Section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) and s169 of the Heavy Vehicle (General) National Regulation. It provides exemptions from certain dimension and mass requirements stipulated in the Heavy Vehicle (Mass Dimension and Loading) National Regulation, and vehicle standards requirements as far as they relate to tractors or agricultural machines towing an agricultural implement that exceeds 3.5m in width. However, these vehicles must comply with specified conditions set out in the Code of Practice for Oversize or Overmass Agricultural Vehicles, including conditional mass requirements, height restrictions, pilot and escort requirements, and times of travel. The Notice also allows eligible vehicles to tow more than one other vehicle without requiring a separate exemption from road rules due to its operation under the HVNL.

Key Provisions

The main sections of this Notice, such as Section 8, establish exemptions from certain mass and dimension requirements for eligible agricultural vehicles operating in South Australia. Specifically, these vehicles are exempt from particular mass limits (Section 4 Mass Limits for a single axle or axle group) and dimension requirements (Sections 3 to 9 in Schedule 6) under the Heavy Vehicle (Mass Dimension and Loading) National Regulation. However, these exemptions come with specific conditions outlined in the Code of Practice for Oversize or Overmass Agricultural Vehicles, including compliance with mass limits for single axles (Section 6) and maximum heights and height restrictions in certain zones (Sections 7, 8, and 18 to 32). The obligations imposed on the parties governed by this Notice include adhering to the conditions set forth in the Code. This includes ensuring compliance with the conditional mass requirements (Section 10) and dimensional restrictions (Section 11) for eligible vehicles. Furthermore, eligible vehicles must comply with pilot and escort requirements (Section 13) and adhere to the specified times of travel (Section 14), particularly if travelling at night, as outlined in the Information Bulletin – Night Travel for Agricultural Machinery - Approved Council Areas. Additionally, these vehicles must meet the vehicle standards requirements related to rear vision mirrors (Section 15) as stipulated in the Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation. The Notice does not explicitly state any specific offences or penalties for breach within its text, but given that it operates under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), breaches of this Notice could potentially incur civil or criminal consequences as outlined in the HVNL. Given that this is a Notice and not an Act, any penalties would be those prescribed under the overarching legislation, which could include fines and potential disqualification from driving for repeat or serious offences. It is essential for parties to ensure full compliance to avoid any adverse legal consequences.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Commercial Law
Instrument
Gazette Notice
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Conditions - Mass
Conditions - Dimension
Exemptions - Mass
Exemptions - Dimension

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Authorises

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.