National Class 3 Supplementary Access (Diversion Assistance) Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1)

HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

National Class 3 Supplementary Access (Diversion Assistance) Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1)

1. Purpose

1)      This Notice authorises the access of Class 3 heavy vehicles that are road trains up to 53.5m in length to a specified network from Western Australia to South Australia. This Notice grants exemptions to certain axle mass requirements under Schedule 1 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL Regulation) and provides alternative conditional mass limits. The purpose of this access is to allow increased freight capacity on alternative road networks during a period when regular rail and road freight routes are cut by natural disaster.

Note: As a class 3 exemption, this Notice applies to any vehicle that complies with the conditions of the Notice, up to the specified conditional masses. Apart from the exempted mass limits, a vehicle must comply with all other requirements of the Heavy Vehicle National Law.

2.       Authorising provision

1)      This Notice is made under the following provisions of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL):

a)      Section 117 – Regulator’s power to exempt a category of class 1 or class 3 heavy vehicles

3.       Title

This exemption Notice may be cited as the National Class 3 Supplementary Access (Diversion Assistance) Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1).

4.       Commencement date

This Notice commences on 25 January 2024.

5.       Expiry date

This Notice expires on 21 February 2024.

6.       Definitions

Unless otherwise stated, words and expression used in this Notice have the same

meanings as those in the HVNL and its regulations.

7.       Application

1)      This Notice applies to a heavy vehicle that meets all of the requirements of this section.

2)      This Notice applies to a heavy vehicle that is a road train that:

a)      does not exceed 53.5m in length; and

b)      does not exceed the mass limits set in section 9; and

c)       apart from the conditions in a) and b), meets the definition of a Type-2 road train under section 6 of the National Class 2 Road Train Authorisation Notice.

3)      This Notice applies to a heavy vehicle that is:

a)      transporting goods from Western Australia to South Australia along the routes specified in section 10; or

b)      making a return journey along the route specified in section 10 from South Australia to Western Australia after completing a journey under a).

4)      This Notice only applies to a heavy vehicle operating in the stated route set out in section 10.

5)      A heavy vehicle to which this section applies is an eligible vehicle.

8.       Exemption – Prescribed mass requirements

1)      An eligible vehicle is exempt from the following mass requirements under 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

2)      An exemption in 1) only applies to the extent provided by specific conditional mass limits in sections 9 of this Notice, or in a Schedule.

9.       Conditions – Mass (axle masses)

1)      An eligible vehicle operating under this Notice may not exceed the following mass limits relating to axles:

a)      a tandem axle group – 17t

b)      a tri-axle group – 22.5t.

10.   Conditions – Areas and Routes

1)      For the purposes of section 121(1)(c) of the HVNL, a network set out in Schedule 1 is a stated area and route to which this authorisation Notice applies.

2)      An eligible vehicle operating on an area or routes under this section must comply with the following conditions relevant to it:

a)      Road conditions pursuant to section 160 of HVNL; and

b)      Travel conditions pursuant to section 161 of the HVNL; and

c)       Vehicle conditions pursuant to section 162 of the HVNL.

11.   Conditions – Certified road-friendly suspension systems

1)      The following specified axle groups on eligible vehicles operating under this Notice must be fitted with the following when those axle groups exceed regulation mass limits:

a)      for tandem axle groups – a certified road-friendly suspension system

b)      for tri-axle groups – a certified road-friendly suspension system

2)      Any system or equipment specified in this section must be functioning when an eligible vehicle is operating under this Notice.

12.   Conditions – Mass Management Accreditation

If an eligible vehicle operating under this Notice is fitted with a tri-axle group that exceeds regulation mass limits, the driver of the vehicle must hold mass management accreditation for the vehicle.

Peter Austin

Director, Policy Implementation

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator

Schedule 1 Stated Routes and Areas

1. Condition – Routes

Pursuant to section 10 of this Notice, an eligible vehicle may operate on the following network published on the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s National Network Map:

Supplementary Access (Western Australia)

Note: The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s National Network Map is published on the Regulator’s website.

2.       Condition – Continuity of route

An eligible vehicle must follow the route specified in section 1 of this Schedule from the route’s start point to its end point.

Note: Regardless of any conditions of this Notice or a route published in this Schedule, all official traffic signs must be complied with.

Rail clearance must be obtained prior to travel pursuant to Australian Rail Track Corporation and Aurizon Bulk Central requirements.