Temporary access ensures essential goods reach WA and NT

The Australian, Western Australian and South Australian Governments have worked with the heavy vehicle industry to ensure that recent flooding does not cut off north-west Australian communities from food and essential supplies.

Temporary access will be provided to Class 3 vehicles to ensure the delivery of essential goods to northern Western Australia and the Northern Territory via South Australia, in response to key freight route closures caused by the recent flooding.

The National Class 3 Supplementary Access (Western Australia Assistance) Exemption Notice 2023 (No.1) will provide temporary access for Class 3 vehicles that are road trains up to 53.5 metres in length to join the Road Train Type 2 network at Port Augusta (SA) to deliver essential goods to northern Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

The Western Australian Government has also put in place permits allowing road trains up to 53.5 metres to travel between Coolgardie and the South Australian border.

“The impact to the road network from this flooding emergency has been significant but the Western Australian Government has moved quickly to put in place permits that will allow larger road trains to travel between Coolgardie and the South Australian border,” said Acting Western Australia Minister for Transport, Planning, Ports, John Carey.

“This exemption notice will ensure those longer road trains can continue their journey on the South Australian side of the border, and I want to thank both the Commonwealth and South Australian Governments for their co-operation on this issue, and the assistance they’re providing to the communities impacted by this flooding emergency.

“Allowing for larger road trains means we can move freight more efficiently by road to parts of our state’s north-west and the Northern Territory,” Mr Carey added.

“The notice will allow Class 3 vehicles to travel from the Lincoln Highway and Eyre Highway to provide a safe and efficient alternative route into Western Australia,” said South Australia Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Tom Koutsantonis.

“This is a common-sense solution that will keep freight routes open and operating during this difficult period,” he concluded.

The temporary notice will expire on Tuesday, February 28, 2023.