Information kit for local councils will improve understanding of Performance Based Standards for heavy vehicles
July 09, 2007
A Performance Based Standards (PBS) information kit for local governments was launched today at the Roads & Transport Congress in Newcastle. PBS is a national transport productivity reform endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG).
Jointly developed by the National Transport Commission (NTC) and the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), the information pack explains the benefits of SMART heavy vehicles for safe and efficient regional and urban road freight transport. It also outlines the important role of local councils, which are responsible for almost 80% of the road network, in the successful introduction of these reforms.
ALGA has been a key member of the NTC’s PBS Policy Steering Committee. President Paul Bell said the association’s 10-year Roads and Transport Strategy acknowledges the importance of SMART heavy vehicles, which comply with world-leading safety and road wear standards.
"Nearly every freight journey begins and ends on a local road," he said. "As the growing freight task puts more pressure on the road system and our communities, we need to look at smarter ways of moving loads more safely and efficiently," Cr Bell said.
"Councils need to understand how these reforms will be implemented and the implications of these new vehicle standards for their road systems."
NTC Chairman Michael Deegan told the Congress that COAG's broad heavy vehicle pricing reform agenda has the potential to deliver a more equitable system of road funding for local government.
"In the meantime, the trucking industry and local government must work more closely on the freight productivity journey and 'last mile' transport access issues," he said. "The NTC congratulates ALGA on its positive contribution to the PBS reform."
The final ALGA/NTC PBS information kit will be circulated to Australia's 700 local councils pending approval of the reform by the Australian Transport Council (ATC).
Note: SMART (Safer Management of Australian Road Transport) heavy vehicles comply to Performance Based Standards
For more information:
- Contact
- NTC: Paul Sullivan, GM Communications & Stakeholder Relations on (03) 9236 5027 or 0419 715242
- Amanda Lynch, Director Government and Media Relations, ALGA - 0419 123 862
