National Class 3 Supplementary Access (Western Australia Assistance) Exemption Notice 2022 (No.4)

HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

National Class 3 Supplementary Access (Western Australia Assistance) Exemption Notice 2022 (No.4)

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 between South Australia to Western 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.

2)      This Notice replaces the National Class 3 Supplementary Access (Western Australia Assistance) Exemption Notice 2022 (No.3).

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.

This version of the Notice provides additional access for A-doubles towing a converter dolly on prescribed roads.

2.       Authorising provision

3)      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 (Western Australia Assistance) Exemption Notice 2022 (No.4).

4.       Commencement date

This Notice commences on 18 November 2022.

5.       Expiry date

This Notice expires on 1 December 2022.

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 2020.

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

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

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

4)      This Notice only applies to a heavy vehicle operating in the stated routes 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.

13.   Condition – Continuity of route

1)      An eligible vehicle must follow a route specified in section 10 either:

a)      from the route’s start point to its end point; or

b)      on a return journey after a journey under a) from the route’s end point to its start point.

2)      The start and end point of the routes are specified in Schedule 1.

Peter Caprioli

Executive Director (Freight and Supply Chain Productivity)

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator

Schedule 1 Stated Routes and Areas

1. Routes and Areas - Road trains that do not exceed 53.5m in length

1)      Tables 1 and 2 set out stated routes pursuant to section 10. An eligible vehicle may operate on the route set out in column 1 under the conditions noted in column 2 or each table.

2.       Condition – Continuity of route

1)      An eligible vehicle must follow the route specified in Table 1 or 2 either:

a)      from the route’s start point to its end point; or

b)      on a return journey after a journey under a) from the route’s end point to its start point.

2)      The start and end point of the route are specified in Column 2 of each table.

Table 1: Stated Route – Port Augusta to Western Australia Border

This network is also identified as Route ID 16ILH-8 v1, as maintained in the records of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.

Table 2: Stated Route – Whyalla Barson to Western Australia Border

This network is also identified as Route ID 16ILK-4 v2, as maintained in the records of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.

Note: Regardless of any conditions in Column 2 of a table in this Schedule, all official traffic signs must be complied with.

Caution to be taken at the intersection of Eyre Hwy from Lincoln Hwy. A left turn cannot be commenced until intersection is clear.

Rail clearance should be obtained prior to travel pursuant to Australian Rail Track Corporation requirements.

3.       Routes and Areas - Class 2 road train that is a compliant A-double towing a converter dolly

1)      Table 3 sets out a stated route pursuant to section 10 of the Notice.

2)      An eligible vehicle that is an A-double towing a converter dolly may operate on a prescribed roads listed in Table 3.

3)      In this section, A-Double has the same meaning as under section 6 of the National Class 2 Road Train Authorisation Notice 2020.

Table 3: Stated Routes – Eligible vehicle that is an A-double towing a converter dolly

Note: The access provided on the prescribed roads in Table 3 is intended to allow the transport converter dollies to and from the start point of the network in Table 1.