Over to you WESTERN ROADS FEDERATION by Cam Dumesny, CEO
The group who kept WA’s Freight Industry Moving
W
estern Australia’s success in containing the spread of the COVID-19 virus is publicly
celebrated. But behind that success was a largely unknown group that was actually ensuring that the State was kept supplied. With external and internal regional borders closed the challenge of supplying and sustaining the State became a major logistics challenge whether by road, rail, sea or air. Unique amongst all State’s WA Freight and Logistics Council, mobilised a WA Supply Chain COVID-19 Response Group that brought together the leaders of the all modes of Transport, Unions and Government. The mobilisation began back in mid to late February well before the lockdowns began following representation from Western Roads Federation that such a group would be needed. Lead by Nicole Lockwood, the Group took the lead in overseeing all aspects
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WATM • June 2020
of the supply chain including shipping, road, rail, air and workforce to ensure the safety of workers in the freight network and secure the supply of essential goods to communities across Western Australia. However, full recognition of the intangible value provided by the group can only be quantified through the success that WA was and continues to be supplied and sustained during one of the largest ever disruptions to the State’s supply chains.
Achievements to Date Western Roads Federation has been integral to the group since its formation. The group has been critical in; • Working collaboratively with government in creating protocol documents and approved templates to ensure essential freight workers were able to cross intrastate and interstate borders including: P A sector-wide COVID-19 protocol framework for companies and a personal declaration for employees
which in turn was recognised as a general industry standard. P Developed and had approved an ‘Entry Into Designated Biosecurity Area COVID-19 Risk Management Plan’ on behalf of the Freight and Logistics industry to streamline the approval process for individual companies traveling into the biosecurity regions. P Worked with DPIRD to create an easy to follow process map outlining the border exemptions process. P Created an online and PDF Roadhouse map showing truck stops that a remain open throughout pandemic, incorporating standardised icons of facilities for drivers to use on-the-go. P Developed transport specific FAQs for Industry and shared these with the COVID Call Centre. P Provided a 7 day a week road transport industry information and assistance service for interstate and intrastate operators facing specific
