revitalise the Roe Highway freight route. Another item on the desired policy list is to protect the safety and productivity of specific freight corridors. Key criteria could be applied that avoids the tension between freight and non-freight traffic. For example the use of roundabouts should be reviewed, access to bicycles should be denied, advance warning lights erected before freight route traffic lights and residential and commercial buildings should not be allowed to the edge of the route. The RAV network itself should be modernised. Transporters make large investments in equipment with the latest safety features and they should get commercial benefit from the investment. To start the reform process the RAV levels should be condensed. For example, Network 3 and 4 should be combined and Networks 5 and 6 should be combined. And finally, one of my personal bugbears – facilities for drivers. Congratulations to the current government for facilitating a joint approach to identifying areas of need and a funding submission agreed by the LRTAWA, Western Roads and The Transport Workers Union together with Main Roads. Similarly, the Liberal Party deserves credit for announcing a specific allocation towards driver facilities. However, we need to keep the impetus for this project and ensure that funding flows to construction of maintenance of toilets and showers for drivers throughout our road network, not just in the populated areas. This cannot be a flash in the pan if we expect to recruit Millennials, Generation Z and the generations to follow, as well as more females. We know they will never accept the conditions that currently exist nor should they. We have heard many times during the pandemic how essential our freight and logistics industry is. The next four years will be an ideal opportunity to work with industry to help it become as efficient as possible and in doing so demonstrate to the community how valued freight and logistics is. When it comes to working with industry it is very important that smaller operators through their representative groups have input to decisions. Large corporate entities and cooperatives with a seat at the table do not always understand the industry imperatives at a local level and this is often the missing piece in the productivity puzzle. Whatever the outcome on the 13th March I look forward to working with the new government and its ministers on behalf of rural transport.
SO WHAT ARE THE PARTIES PROMISING US?
W
ith all the major parties campaigning for the March 13th election, close on $10 billion of promises have been made collectively for WA. Most of the pledges have ramifications for all of WA; one of the biggest being the Liberal Party's plan for the state to reach net zero emissions by 2030 and shut down coal-fired power stations by 2025. The WA Labor Partie's focus remains on delivering local jobs and the Premier Mark McGowan recently hit the regions pledging a raft of commitments for the Mid-West, Kimberly and Pilbara. As covered in this edition, the WA Labor Party has committed up to $6.1 million to train more West Australians in heavy vehicle driving with a new pilot training program that is a ‘first’ for Australia to address the skill shortages in the transport industry. The WA Labor Party has also put a major focus on upgrading rest areas for heavy vehicle drivers with a $14 million package to commence from June 2021 on 17 initial locations, subject to approval from the Commonwealth Government.
would also commit $40 million towards building overtaking lanes and $20 million to improve roadside amenities for truck drivers. Ms Mettam said the Liberals’ commitment to building more truck stops with proper toilet, shower and rest facilities was important in addressing the incidence of fatigue as a major factor in road accidents. The Liberals will also allocate $1 million to examine future investment opportunities for developing transport intermodal and innovation Hubs at Muchea, Bunbury and Kalgoorlie. The Liberals have underlined their commitment to build Roe 8 & 9. Zak Kirkup said, “Roe 8 & 9 are critical missing links in Perth’s long-planned highway system. The Liberals will always fight for Roe 8 & 9 because of the real community benefits, like getting 74,000 cars and 7,000 trucks off our local roads every day to create a safer, smarter today and a brighter, better tomorrow. This major infrastructure project will create up to 10,000 jobs and is a key part of
With all the major parties campaigning for the March 13th election, close on $10 billion of promises has been made collectively for WA The WA Liberals have committed to invest $900 million in a WA regional roads safety blitz focused on saving lives and creating jobs. Opposition leader Zak Kirkup said, “The Liberals will fast-track the program to ensure the remaining $445 million in upgrades to improve more than 17,000km of regional roads will be completed. Shadow Transport Minister Libby Mettam said the Liberals
the Liberals’ plan to create 200,000 new jobs over the next five years.” Libby Mettam said “There’s $1.2 billion in Federal funding available right now to build Roe 8 & 9, and create thousands of WA jobs. Our community wants and needs Roe 8 & 9. Independent research shows the overwhelming majority – 70% of the people who actually live in our southern suburbs – want Roe 8 & 9 built.”
WATM • March 2021
3
