Regional Roadworks Signage Review handed to government

Call for investigations to be extended to include heavy vehicle crashes

The 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 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

$150m boost for hydrogen hubs

The 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.

Regional Roadworks Signage Review handed to State Government

The State Government has received the final recommendation report into temporary road signage following a Regional Roadworks Signage Review.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti initiated the review late last year following community feedback.

The review was undertaken by a reference group headed by Dennis O'Reilly from the Department of Transport and made up of key industry stakeholders, including representatives from: • The Traffic Management Association Australia WA; • WorkSafe; • Engineers Australia WA; • Institute of Public Works

Engineering Australasia WA; • RAC; • Western Roads Federation; • Livestock and Rural Transporters Association WA; • Civil Contractors Federation; • WA Local Government Association; • WA Police; • TWU; and • Road Safety Commission

The community provided input at a series of information sessions held throughout April to July, in different towns across regional Western Australia, where they outlined their experiences with roadwork signage. More than 350 survey responses were also received on the My Say Transport online portal. The final recommendation report was shaped by the community consultation report and the Australian Road Research Board technical report. The State Government will now take the time to review the

More than 350 report and its findings survey responses were also received before presenting its response. The report is on the My Say available at: www. Transport online mysaytransport. wa.gov.au/regionalportal roadworks-signagereview Minister Saffioti said, “At the end of last year we established a review into temporary roadworks signage in regional Western Australia in response to community feedback. “The Reference Group has now presented me with the final report, which looks at ways to improve the use of temporary roadworks and traffic signage in regional areas. “I want to thank everyone that participated and all our industry stakeholders for your role in shaping this review. “I will provide the State Government’s response to the report shortly.”