Heavy Vehicle National Law - Victoria Class 3 Carrier (Goats) Mass Exemption Notice 2020 (No. 1)

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Legislation au C2020G00430 In force Gazette

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HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

Victoria Class 3 Carrier (Goats) Mass Exemption Notice 2020 (No. 1)

Purpose

  1. The purpose of this notice is to exempt a stated category of class 3 heavy vehicles from the mass requirements prescribed in Schedules 1 to 5 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (the National Regulation).

 

Note –

The Heavy Vehicle National Law provides that a heavy vehicle is a class 3 heavy vehicle if it, together with its load, does not comply with a prescribed mass requirement or prescribed dimension requirement applying to it and is not a class 1 heavy vehicle. The National Class 2 Heavy Vehicle 4.6m High Livestock Carrier Authorisation (Notice) 2014 (No. 1) authorises the use of livestock carriers from 4.3 to 4.6 metres in height in the areas or routes, during the hours on the days and subject to the conditions set out in that notice. This instrument is an exemption that declares that certain livestock carriers that are up to 4.6 metres high are exempt from all of the prescribed mass requirements prescribed under the Heavy Vehicle National Law, subject to compliance with the conditions set out in this notice.

 

This notice replaces the Victoria Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Livestock Carrier (Goats) Mass Exemption (Notice) 2015.

 

Authorising Provision

2.       This notice is made under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law as in force in each participating jurisdiction (the HVNL).

 

Title

3.       This notice may be cited as the Victoria Class 3 Livestock Carrier (Goats) Mass Exemption Notice 2020.

 

Commencement

4.       This notice commences on 25 May 2020.

 

Expiry

5.       This notice expires on 24 May 2025.

 

Definitions

6.       Unless otherwise stated, words or expressions used in this notice have the same meanings as in the HVNL or regulations made under the HVNL.

 

7.       In this notice—

 

livestock carrier (goats) means a heavy vehicle that is—

a)      a 6 axle articulated vehicle or a 9 axle B-double; and

b)      up to 4.6 metres high; and

c)       built to carry goats.

Application

8.       This notice applies to livestock carriers (goats).

 

9.       This notice applies in Victoria.

 

Exemption from prescribed mass requirements

10.   This notice exempts livestock carriers (goats) from the mass requirements prescribed in schedules 1 to 5 of the National Regulation, provided that they comply at all times with the conditions set out in this notice.

 

Areas or routes

11.   A livestock carrier (goats) operating under this notice may use any route designated as being available under the livestock scheme for the transportation of goats for that category of vehicle.

 

Notes: Livestock scheme networks are published on the VicRoads website.

 

Conditions

12.   The driver and operator of a livestock carrier (goats) must comply with the conditions set out in Schedule 1 and Schedule 3 of the Victoria Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Livestock Carrier Mass Exemption Notice 2020  except as varied by this notice.

 

13.   The number of decks used to transport goats must not exceed 4.

 

14.   In addition to the conditions mentioned above, the driver and operator of a livestock carrier (goats) operating on a route in a local council area mentioned in column 1 of Table 1 of Schedule 1 must comply with the conditions set out opposite that local council area in column 2.

 

Note—

Nothing in this notice exempts the driver or operator of a livestock carrier (goats) from complying with legislation regulating the use of heavy vehicles including but not limited to:

a)        compliance with dimension limits in the HVNL;

b)       compliance with traffic signs;

c)        compliance with vehicle standards in the HVNL; and

d)       compliance with lawful directions of authorised officers.

 

 

 

Peter Caprioli

Executive Director (Freight and Supply Chain Productivity)

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator


Schedule 1 - Local Council Access Conditions

 

Table 1

Column 1 - Local council area

Column 2 - Conditions

Mornington Peninsula Shire Council

Any person operating under this exemption accepts responsibility for any damage arising in connection with the use of a vehicle operating under this notice and indemnifies Mornington Peninsula Shire against any liability arising from the use of the vehicle/s.

The shortest route to delivery point from nearest State managed arterial road is to be travelled, to minimise damage to local roads.

Note—

Mornington Peninsula Shire maintains a vegetation clearance of 3.75m on roads (excluding 'A' class roads); this will need to be considered for vehicles that require a greater clearance.

 

 

Overview

The Heavy Vehicle National Law Victoria Class 3 Carrier (Goats) Mass Exemption Notice 2020 (No. 1) was introduced to address the need for a mass exemption for certain class 3 heavy vehicles, specifically those built to carry goats, from the mass requirements prescribed in the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation. This notice was enacted by the relevant legislature under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law, which applies across participating jurisdictions. The primary policy objective of this notice is to facilitate the efficient transportation of goats by exempting specified heavy vehicles from certain mass requirements, provided they comply with the conditions outlined in the notice. This exemption aims to streamline the logistics of livestock transportation while ensuring compliance with other regulatory requirements such as dimension limits, traffic signs, and vehicle standards.

Scope and Application

The Victoria Class 3 Carrier (Goats) Mass Exemption Notice 2020 (No. 1) applies to specific heavy vehicles used for the transportation of goats, namely those that are either 6-axle articulated vehicles or 9-axle B-doubles and are up to 4.6 metres high. This notice exempts these livestock carriers from the mass requirements prescribed in Schedules 1 to 5 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation, but only within the jurisdiction of Victoria and subject to the conditions outlined in the notice. The exemption applies to the operation of these vehicles in Victoria and is effective from 25 May 2020 until 24 May 2025. The notice also incorporates conditions that must be adhered to, such as the maximum number of decks allowed for transporting goats and additional requirements for operators within specific local council areas. Despite the exemption from mass requirements, drivers and operators must still comply with other legislative requirements, including dimension limits, traffic signs, vehicle standards, and lawful directions from authorised officers.

Key Provisions

The primary sections of this notice (sections 8 to 14) establish the exemption of class 3 heavy vehicles built to carry goats, which are up to 4.6 metres high, from the mass requirements prescribed under the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation. This exemption applies to these vehicles provided they comply with the specific conditions set out in the notice. It's important to note that this notice does not alter the requirements for compliance with other relevant legislation, such as dimension limits, traffic signs, vehicle standards, and directions from authorised officers. The notice imposes several obligations on the drivers and operators of these livestock carriers. They must adhere to the conditions specified in Schedule 1 and Schedule 3 of the Victoria Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Livestock Carrier Mass Exemption Notice 2020, with any variations made by this current notice. Specifically, the number of decks used for transporting goats must not exceed four. Furthermore, operators must comply with any additional conditions set by local councils for specific areas, as outlined in Table 1 of Schedule 1. These local council conditions often include responsibilities related to road damage and route selection to minimise harm to local infrastructure. Failure to comply with the conditions set forth in this notice may result in various civil or criminal consequences. Although specific penalties are not detailed in this notice, breaches of heavy vehicle regulations under the Heavy Vehicle National Law can result in significant fines and potential criminal charges. The penalties can vary based on the severity of the breach and may include substantial financial penalties and, in some cases, imprisonment for the responsible individuals or entities. In summary, this notice provides a detailed framework for the exemption of certain class 3 heavy vehicles carrying goats from specific mass requirements, while also outlining the conditions that must be met to ensure compliance with broader heavy vehicle regulations. Non-compliance with these conditions can lead to severe penalties, underscoring the importance of adhering to the notice's stipulations.

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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.