capacity to manufacture transport fuel in WA is exacerbated by the threat that several other Australian refineries have a question mark over their future. The Kwinana refinery is Australia’s largest oil refinery and will be converted to an import terminal as a result of the closure decision. WA transport will then be dependent on imports of crude oil products like petrol and diesel. The International Energy Agency (IEA) recommends its member countries, including Australia, hold emergency oil stocks equivalent to 90 days of net oil imports to guard against an emergency. Australia has 20 days’ worth of diesel fuel in reserve, while petrol supply is around 25 days. Australia is the only developed oilimporting country where there is no government controlled stock of crude oil or refined petroleum products and no mandated commercial stock requirements for oil. The Australian Government has stockpiled fuel in the US, but it is hard to accept this will help in the face of a global threat to supply lines. Fuel from the US will take a month to reach Australia, assuming shipping lanes are not disrupted. The privilege of having the capacity to produce sufficient food to meet our own needs in a disaster will be no use if we cannot fuel equipment to plant and harvest food; and transport it to the Australian population. This issue, like the need for protected freight routes with access for high productivity vehicles, is a vital policy matter our leaders and their agencies need to pay attention to in the national interest. Fuel security is just one issue that
An intermodal terminal would bring containerised freight from Fremantle Port to unload in the Bullsbrook industrial area, where it would be transferred from rail to the regional road network
I am concerned about the impact of the closure of the Kwinana BP refinery on WA’s fuel security disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic have caused us look at differently. The impact of more of people travelling to the regions and enjoying what our great state has to offer is another. The Wander out Yonder campaign to encourage Western Australians to visit the regions and experience the range of tourism opportunities available was a great idea and provided a welcome boost to regional businesses hit hard by COVID-19 restrictions. The downside however has been a dramatic increase in tourist traffic on regional roads, many of whom have little experience with the distances involved and are unaware how to share the road with heavy vehicles. It is time to roll out an advertising campaign to alert car drivers to some of the key messages about keeping everyone safe on our roads over the Christmas and holiday period with a special emphasis on how to drive safely around heavy vehicles. Transafe WA’s Give a Tru*k’ campaign is a great initiative to get information out
D
o you have what it takes to be on the next season of Outback Truckers? With Season 9 in production, the producers are on the lookout for new talent. Prerequisites include travelling on difficult roads or dealing with
to road users about truck drivers’ pet hates such as overtaking and cutting in front of heavy vehicles but as a not for profit, Transafe’s resources are limited. Government or Road Safety Commission funds need to be expended in getting the safety message to the travelling public during the holidays. Such a campaign needs to be developed in consultation with the heavy vehicle industry. Wandering out yonder has also brought another issue to our attention - caravaners and holiday makers in light vehicles using heavy vehicle rest areas, in some cases even setting up camp. Rest areas are not huge areas and if a camper has taken up space so a heavy vehicle cannot fit, there is a risk the truck driver will need to move elsewhere for a rest. Whilst there is currently no legal prohibition on light vehicles using safety bays, it is important that the community is educated about their purpose and how to properly use them. Safety bays are part of a truck driver’s workplace and with a little bit of thought and education, the holidaying public can accommodate the essential freight industry. The alternative to better education is to go the way of some other states and apply on the spot penalties for misusing heavy vehicle rest areas. Better signage about appropriate use and the distance to the next safety bay would also assist the industry. This will be the last edition for the year, so it is time to wish all our industry colleagues a safe and happy Christmas. Hopefully you be able to spend time with your families and not too much of it on the road. Here’s to a new year that is plain sailing.
challenging loads. If you are interested, contact them at mail@prospero.com.au or send them a message on their Facebook Page telling them a bit about yourself and the types of loads and journeys you do.
WATM • December 2020
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