News
Call for investigations to be extended to include heavy vehicle crashes
T
he ATA and member NatRoad have called for the Australian Transport Safety Bureau’s safety investigations to be extended to include heavy vehicle crashes. In a submission to the Joint Select Committee Inquiry into Road Safety, they have called for no-blame, independent road safety investigations - a move that has already been recommended by both the independent review of the National Road
$150m boost for hydrogen hubs
T
he Australian Hydrogen Council (AHC) has welcomed the announcement by the Morrison Government of extra grants funding and expansion of its short list for a national network of clean hydrogen hubs. AHC Chief Executive Officer, Dr Fiona Simon, said the announcement of an extra $150 million in grants funding underlines that the Government is serious about investing in Australia’s hydrogen future. “Committing grant funding of $464m to support feasibility studies and construction is another important step forward,” Dr Simon said. “It’s certainly a vote of confidence in the industry and we hope there’s more to come. “There’s no doubt that Australia has the renewable energy resources, the technical skills, and the track record with international partners to become a global hydrogen leader. “Grant funding is an important part of the bigger picture. Dr Simon said the decision to increase the number of hubs from five to seven is good news for jobs and getting the industry to scale as hubs drive collaboration and shared benefit. “Globally, hubs are considered vital to establish scale in clean hydrogen,” Dr Simon said. “We now await broader planning and regulatory architecture being put into place to enable hydrogen to reach commercial scale,” Dr Simon concluded.
22
WATM • November 2021
Safety Strategy and by the Productivity Commission. NatRoad CEO Warren Clark said the submission raised key priorities that should be fast tracked, especially infrastructure improvements that will improve on-road safety. “Road conditions are a causation factor in about 30 per cent of all crashes and is a factor in the severity of 100 per cent of crashes,” he said.
Road conditions are a causation factor in about 30 per cent of all crashes and is a factor in the severity of 100 per cent of crashes
Regional Roadworks Signage Review handed to State Government
T
he State Government different towns across regional Western has received the final Australia, where they outlined their recommendation report into experiences with roadwork signage. temporary road signage following a More than 350 survey responses were Regional Roadworks Signage Review. also received on the My Say Transport Transport Minister Rita Saffioti online portal. initiated the review late last year The final recommendation report following community feedback. was shaped by the community The review was undertaken by a consultation report and the Australian reference group headed by Dennis Road Research Board technical report. O'Reilly from the Department of The State Government will now take Transport and made the time to review the up of key industry report and its findings More than 350 stakeholders, presenting its survey responses before including response. were also received representatives from: The report is • The Traffic available at: www. on the My Say Management mysaytransport. Transport online wa.gov.au/regionalAssociation Australia WA; roadworks-signageportal • WorkSafe; review • Engineers Australia WA; Minister Saffioti said, “At the end • Institute of Public Works of last year we established a review Engineering Australasia WA; into temporary roadworks signage in • RAC; regional Western Australia in response • Western Roads Federation; to community feedback. • Livestock and Rural Transporters “The Reference Group has now Association WA; presented me with the final report, • Civil Contractors Federation; which looks at ways to improve the • WA Local Government Association; use of temporary roadworks and traffic • WA Police; signage in regional areas. • TWU; and “I want to thank everyone that • Road Safety Commission participated and all our industry stakeholders for your role in shaping The community provided input this review. at a series of information sessions “I will provide the State Government’s held throughout April to July, in response to the report shortly.”
