Heavy Vehicle National Law South Australia Class 3 Road Train (North of Port Augusta) Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1)

Administered by Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts

Legislation au C2019G00136 In force Gazette

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HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

South Australia Class 3 Road Train (North of Port Augusta) Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1)

  1. Purpose

 

1)      This Notice provides access for Road Trains that exceed regulation dimensions travelling on limited routes.

Note: This notice replaces parts of the following South Australia Notice of Approval and Exemption, and their Code of Practice:

 

Operation of Road Train Vehicles in South Australia

 

 This notice only applies to Road Trains that exceed regulation dimension requirements and therefore need an exemption. For access for compliant Class 2 Road Trains, see the National Class 2 Heavy Vehicle Road Train Authorisation (Notice) 2015. This Class 3 Notice is designed to operate closely with the National Class 2 Road Train Notice, and adopts many of its provisions.

 

2.       Authorising Provision

 

1)      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

 

1)      This Notice commences on 10 February 2019.

 

4.       Expiry

 

1)      This Notice expires on 9 February 2024.

 

5.       Title

 

1)      This Notice may be cited as the South Australia Class 3 Road Train (North of Port Augusta) 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:-

Class 2 Road Train Notice means the National Class 2 Heavy Vehicle Road Train Authorisation (Notice) 2015.

 

Current Notice means a heavy vehicle authorisation made by Gazette Notice under the Heavy Vehicle National Law, and that is current at a relevant time

 

Eligible vehicle means a road train that complies with the conditions of this Notice.

7.       Application

 

1)      This Notice applies to eligible vehicles operating in South Australia.

 

8.       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 8 – Width

b)      Section 9 – Height

 

9.       Conditions – Dimensions

 

1)      The maximum width of any item carried on an eligible vehicle that is a Type 1 Road Train or a prime mover and semi-trailer towing a converter dolly must not exceed 3.5m; and

 

2)      The maximum width of any item carried on an eligible vehicle that is a Type 2 Road Train must not exceed 3.1m; and

 

3)      The overall height of an eligible vehicle and its load must not exceed 4.6m, except for a transportable building where the overall height of the vehicle and transportable building must not exceed 4.85m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.   Conditions –Stated Routes

 

1)      Travel by eligible vehicles under this Notice is limited to the following roads:

a)      Between Port Augusta West and the South Australia/Northern Territory border via Old Tarcoola Road and Stuart Highway; and

b)      Olympic Dam Highway, from the intersection of the Stuart Highway at Pimba to Olympic Dam.

 

11.   Conditions Application of the Class 2 Road Train Notice

 

1)      As well as complying with the requirements of this Notice, an eligible vehicle must comply with all of the conditions of the Class 2 Road Train Notice, except for height and width:

a)      eligible vehicles may use the conditional height and width limits specified section 9.

 

12.   Conditions – Application of Schedule 8 of the MDL Regulation

 

2)      The following conditions that normally apply to Class 1 vehicles under Schedule 8 of the MDL Regulation apply to eligible vehicles operating under this Notice:

a)      Section 1 - Smallest practicable size of unloaded vehicle

b)      Section 2 - Warning signs and flags

c)       Section 3- Warning lights and delineators if load projecting from vehicle

d)      Section 4 - Warning lights for wide vehicles used in daytime

e)      Section 6 – Headlights

f)        Section 8 – No travelling if low visibility

g)       Section 9 – Minimum following distance

h)      Section 10 – Allowing overtaking

i)        Section 11 – Assessing routes

 

13.   Condition – Daytime travel

 

1)      Travel is restricted to daytime hours.

 

14.   Conditions – General

 

1)      If loads of varying widths are carried, the widest load must always be carried on the forward trailer.

 

Peter Caprioli

Executive Director (Freight and Supply Chain Productivity)

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator

 

 

Overview

The South Australia Class 3 Road Train (North of Port Augusta) Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 was enacted to address the specific needs of road trains that exceed regulation dimensions while travelling on designated routes in South Australia. This Notice, which is made under Section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law and Section 169 of the Heavy Vehicle (General) National Regulation, provides exemptions for eligible vehicles from certain dimension requirements to facilitate their operation on limited routes. It is designed to operate in conjunction with the National Class 2 Road Train Notice, adopting many of its provisions while providing tailored conditions for Class 3 Road Trains. This Notice, which commenced on 10 February 2019 and will expire on 9 February 2024, applies to eligible vehicles operating in South Australia and sets out specific conditions regarding dimensions, routes, and operational requirements to ensure safety and compliance with national regulations.

Scope and Application

The South Australia Class 3 Road Train (North of Port Augusta) Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No. 1) applies to road trains that exceed the standard dimension requirements and require an exemption for operation within South Australia. This Notice is made under Section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) and s169 of the Heavy Vehicle (General) National Regulation, and it operates closely with the National Class 2 Road Train Notice, adopting many of its provisions. It is designed to provide access for eligible vehicles travelling on specific routes while maintaining safety and compliance standards. The Notice exempts eligible vehicles from certain dimension requirements in Schedule 6 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass Dimension and Loading) National Regulation, but stipulates conditions on the maximum width and height of the vehicles and their loads. It also restricts travel to certain roads between Port Augusta West and the South Australia/Northern Territory border, and from Pimba to Olympic Dam, and mandates daytime travel only. Vehicles operating under this Notice must also comply with the conditions of the Class 2 Road Train Notice and certain conditions of Schedule 8 of the MDL Regulation.

Key Provisions

The main sections of the South Australia Class 3 Road Train (North of Port Augusta) Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No. 1) provide specific exemptions for road trains that exceed regulation dimensions, allowing them to operate under certain conditions on designated routes in South Australia. This Notice, which applies to road trains that need an exemption from dimension requirements, is designed to operate closely with the National Class 2 Road Train Notice and incorporates many of its provisions (sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8). The Notice outlines the dimensions that eligible vehicles can exceed and the routes they are permitted to travel on, along with additional conditions such as the requirement to always carry the widest load on the forward trailer (sections 9, 10, 12, 14). This Act imposes several obligations on the parties it governs. Eligible vehicles must comply with specific dimension limits: the maximum width for Type 1 road trains or prime movers and semi-trailers towing a converter dolly must not exceed 3.5 metres, while the maximum width for Type 2 road trains must not exceed 3.1 metres. Additionally, the overall height of an eligible vehicle and its load must not exceed 4.6 metres, except for a transportable building, where the maximum height is 4.85 metres (section 9). Furthermore, travel by eligible vehicles under this Notice is restricted to designated roads between Port Augusta West and the South Australia/Northern Territory border, and along the Olympic Dam Highway from Pimba to Olympic Dam. Vehicles must also adhere to conditions outlined in the Class 2 Road Train Notice and specific sections of Schedule 8 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass Dimension and Loading) National Regulation, such as requirements for warning signs, lights, and the smallest practicable size of an unloaded vehicle (sections 11, 12, 13). There are no specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences outlined in the text of this Notice. However, it is implied that non-compliance with the conditions and requirements set forth could result in legal repercussions under the Heavy Vehicle National Law, which governs heavy vehicle operations in Australia. Penalties for breaches of heavy vehicle regulations can include fines and potential disqualification from driving, depending on the severity and nature of the offence.

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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.