en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Australian Government recently announced that, as part of the Heavy Vehicle Rest Area (HVRA) program, it will provide AUD 9 million in funding for eight rest area projects across four states to improve parking and rest conditions for truck drivers and enhance road safety.
New South Wales has received a total investment of AUD 810,190. This funding will be used for two new rest areas on Ivanhoe Road in Balranald Shire, one on the Dowling Track at Yantabulla in Bourke Shire, and the relocation of a truck stop on Albury Road in Lockhart Shire. New South Wales Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison stated that providing well-located and safe rest stops for freight operators is crucial, describing the investment as a "huge win" for truck drivers, freight operators, and road safety. She emphasized that roads are drivers' workplaces, and ensuring they have the facilities to do their job properly is paramount, with safety being the top priority.
In Queensland, the funding will be used to upgrade the Burra Range rest area on the Flinders Highway between Charters Towers and Hughenden, as well as upgrades to multiple rest stops on the Gore Highway between Toowoomba and Goondiwindi and the Leichhardt Highway between Miles and Goondiwindi. Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Brent Mickelberg stated that the Flinders, Gore, and Leichhardt highways are critical freight corridors for Queensland, and these upgrades will help improve safety for truck drivers and all road users while supporting the freight operators that drive Queensland's economy.
South Australia will use the funding to build two heavy vehicle rest areas on the Stuart Highway, one at Gosse Range and another at Five Mile. South Australia Infrastructure and Transport Minister Joe Szakacs stated that the Stuart Highway is the primary link between South Australia and the Northern Territory, and ensuring truck drivers have safe places to stop and rest is essential for keeping supply chains moving and roads safe. He noted that reducing driver fatigue helps protect truck drivers, other road users, and the communities that depend on goods arriving safely.
In Western Australia, the project will provide eight new informal rest areas for truck drivers across four major corridors in Meekatharra Shire, including two new rest areas each on the Ashburton Downs-Meekatharra Road, Wiluna Road North, Landor-Meekatharra Road, and Sandstone Road. Western Australia Transport Minister Rita Saffioti stated that a safe and efficient road freight network is vital to Western Australia's economy. Western Australia Senator Glenn Sterle added that key drivers deserve adequate rest areas across the road network, and this project is helping to achieve that goal.
The Livestock, Bulk and Rural Carriers Association (LBRCA) welcomed the AUD 9 million investment, emphasizing that safe and accessible rest areas in the right locations are essential infrastructure for heavy vehicle drivers, particularly those undertaking long journeys across rural and remote Australia. LBRCA Chair Wade Lewis stated that roads are drivers' workplaces, and having a safe, practical place to stop, rest, and manage fatigue is critical to keeping drivers and other road users safe. He noted that many drivers leave their home bases for days at a time, transporting critical goods and commodities—including bulk agricultural produce and livestock—over long distances in remote and rural areas, and that adequate rest and parking facilities make a real difference.
Regarding commencement timelines, Assistant Minister for Regional Development Senator Anthony Chisholm told ABC Southern Queensland radio that the projects are expected to go to tender soon, with hopes that construction could begin within a few months. He stated that the tenders will be split so that local contractors can successfully complete the work, which also means employment opportunities for local contractors.
