HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW
Heavy Vehicle Stated Maps – Network Suspension and Amendment Notice 2025 (No.7)
- Purpose
The purpose of this notice is to amend stated networks for vehicles on the Regulator’s initiative.
- Commencement date
- Suspension or amendment of the routes in Schedule 1 under section 4(1)(a) below commences immediately upon publication of this notice; and
- Cancellation or amendment of the routes in Schedule 1 under section 4(1)(b) below commences 28 days after publication of this notice.
- Title
This notice may be cited as the Heavy Vehicle Stated Maps – Network Suspension and Amendment Notice 2025 (No.7).
- Authorising provision
- This notice is made under:
- Section 175, immediately suspending or amending the routes listed in Schedule 1 of this notice to prevent or minimise serious harm to public safety or significant damage to road infrastructure; and
- Section 173, cancelling or amending the routes listed in Schedule 1 of this notice on the Regulator’s initiative.
- Application
This notice applies in all participating jurisdictions.
- Amendments
The specified networks in Column 2 of Schedule 1 to this notice are amended as specified in Column 4 for the Road Manager’s reasons shown in Column 5.
- Public notice of amendment
Any person affected by the purpose of the action they make written representation to the Regulator within 14 days of the publication of the notice about why the amendment should not be made.
Dated: 30/05/2025
Jose Arredondo
Manager Network Access Policy
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator
Schedule 1 Table of Amended Routes
Column 1 Authorising Provision | Column 2 Network | Column 3 Locality | Column 4 Changes to Route | Column 5 Road manager Reasons for Change |
s174 and s175 HVNL | Victorias Gazetted B-Double Network | Ararat Rural City Council | Restricting access over Narrow Bridge 7001.14 at Buangor-Ben Nevis Rd, Warrak | Narrow bridge 7001.14 is load limited to 30t, in accordance with level 3 inspection completed 19/09/2024. Deck and substructure elements are not suitable for heavy vehicle traffic. Renewal works are currently under development. |
s174 and s175 HVNL | Queenslands B Double 23m & 26m Networks | Council Of The City Of The Gold Coast | Removing access on the B-Double Networks to:
Boyd St, Bilinga & Tugun Coolangatta Rd, Bilinga & Tugan Kitchener St, Tugun Loongana Ave | We recently conducted a swept path analysis at the intersections of Coolangatta Road and Boyde Street. The analysis showed that the swept paths for B-double vehicles failed, rendering this route unsafe for such movements. |
s174 and s175 HVNL | Victoria – Multiple Networks PBS Level 1 & 2A, Class 1 Oversize and Overmass Agricultural Vehicle Network, HML Network | Southern Grampians Shire Council | Removing access to North Boundary Rd Hamilton | The eastern half of North Boundary Road, from the Hammond Street intersection to the Hensley Park Road intersection, is now permanently closed to heavy vehicles. This decision has been made to: - Redirect heavy vehicle traffic to the Cox Street route, which is better suited for such use
- Improve public safety and reflect the unsuitability of this section of road for continued heavy vehicle access
Permits may be issued on a case-by-case basis for operators with a genuine need to access the affected area. Heavy vehicle operators are advised to use Cox Street as the designated alternative route. |
s174 and s175 HVNL | Victoria – All Networks | City of Port Phillip | Removing Access to Smith St, Port Melbourne | Smith Street in Port Melbourne is undergoing a significant street scape redesign. The wide local road serving historical commercial warehouses is now undergoing significant redesign to promote active transport and cater for the new primary school and Kindergarten that will be constructed in Smith Street accommodating 650 primary aged students and 66 kindergarten students. The new design will incorporate a linear park, bi-directional bike lane, reduced road width, water storage areas and pedestrian crossings which makes the road no longer suitable for heavy vehicles. |
s174 and s175 HVNL | Victoria – All Networks | Brimbank City Council | Extending Calder Park Drive closure. | Closure extended to January 2026 due to ongoing works. |
s174 and s175 HVNL | Victoria – PBS Networks | Mitchell Shire Council | Removing access to High Street, Seymour. | Due to a recent Level 3 Bridge Inspection conducted citing safety concerns for capacity loading on the bridge. |
Overview
The Heavy Vehicle Stated Maps – Network Suspension and Amendment Notice 2025 (No.7) was enacted by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator to address safety and infrastructure concerns related to heavy vehicle access on specific routes. The notice, which applies across all participating jurisdictions, was introduced under sections 175 and 173 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law. The primary objective of this notice is to suspend or amend routes to prevent serious harm to public safety or significant damage to road infrastructure. Immediate suspension of routes was enacted to avert imminent risks, while other amendments will take effect 28 days after publication. This notice allows for the modification of stated networks on the Regulator’s initiative, facilitating the redirection of heavy vehicle traffic to safer and more suitable routes, and it provides an avenue for public representation on proposed amendments.
Scope and Application
The Heavy Vehicle Stated Maps – Network Suspension and Amendment Notice 2025 (No.7) applies to all heavy vehicle operators within participating jurisdictions in Australia. The Notice is intended to amend specified networks for heavy vehicles as part of the Regulator’s initiative to ensure public safety and the integrity of road infrastructure. The changes, detailed in Schedule 1, include restricting or removing access to specific roads due to various reasons such as bridge load limitations, swept path analysis results, road closures for redevelopment, and safety concerns following bridge inspections. This Notice is authorised under Section 175 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law to immediately suspend or amend routes to prevent serious harm to public safety or significant damage to road infrastructure, and under Section 173 on the Regulator’s initiative to cancel or amend routes. It is effective in all jurisdictions that participate in the Heavy Vehicle National Law regime. Affected parties have the opportunity to make written representations to the Regulator within 14 days of the notice’s publication if they believe the amendments should not proceed.
Key Provisions
The Heavy Vehicle Stated Maps – Network Suspension and Amendment Notice 2025 (No.7) primarily affects the heavy vehicle networks in various jurisdictions across Australia. Section 4(1)(a) of the notice (paragraphs 2 and 3) initiates the immediate suspension or amendment of routes listed in Schedule 1, while section 4(1)(b) (paragraph 4) mandates that the cancellation or amendment of routes listed in Schedule 1 will take effect 28 days after the publication of the notice. The notice is applicable in all participating jurisdictions, as stated in section 4(2) (paragraph 5), and it is made under sections 175 and 173 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) (paragraph 6). Schedule 1 (paragraph 8) lists the specific routes that are subject to amendment or cancellation, along with the reasons for these changes and the relevant authorising provisions.
This notice imposes several obligations on parties and entities it governs. Firstly, it requires the immediate suspension or amendment of certain heavy vehicle routes to prevent or minimise serious harm to public safety or significant damage to road infrastructure (section 4(1)(a)). Secondly, it mandates the cancellation or amendment of other routes on the Regulator’s initiative (section 4(1)(b)). The notice further provides that affected persons have the right to make written representations to the Regulator within 14 days of the notice’s publication if they wish to object to the proposed amendments (section 7(1)(a)) (paragraph 9).
The notice does not explicitly detail specific offences, penalties, or consequences for breach. However, it is reasonable to infer that failure to comply with the notice’s provisions may result in legal action under the HVNL or other relevant legislation. Such actions could potentially lead to civil or criminal penalties, although the exact nature of these penalties is not specified within the notice itself. The heavy vehicle operators are advised to adhere to the amended routes and use alternative routes where specified to avoid any potential legal repercussions.