Queensland truckies’ advocate Wes Walker has ramped up his fight for drivers using the busy Gatton breakdown pads.
Walker, who is renowned for his high-profile battle to win toilets for truckies on the site, is now laser-focused on securing parking lines and speed limit signs, fearing it’s only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured there.
Although vocal on these pages in the past about the issue, Walker has now dipped into his own pocket to build makeshift 15km/h speed-limit signs to help get the message through to authorities.
He knows the limits aren’t legally enforceable but believes they’re already having a positive impact.
Walker says the problems have been there since the facility opened, but have steadily worsened due to a lack of enforcement, direction and basic infrastructure.
“It’s getting worse because no one’s done anything about it,” Walker said.
At the centre of his concerns is what he describes as a chaotic and unsafe environment, with no clear traffic flow, no marked parking bays and no enforceable rules governing how the space is used.
Without lines or signage, Walker says drivers are left to make their own rules, often with dangerous consequences.
“You’ve got a classroom full of kids and no teacher – they just run amok, and that’s what’s happening,” he said.
He recounts multiple near misses, including one incident involving a trailer and dolly where a truck was running dangerously close behind, and says older drivers are increasingly worried about the risks.
“Someone’s going to get killed in here,” Walker said.
Walker has been pushing for change since late last year, when he presented a seven-point plan aimed at improving safety and efficiency at the site. His proposals include installing proper line markings, introducing a speed limit, enforcing a 48-hour parking rule, and redesigning the layout to create a one-way flow through the facility.
He also suggested relocating dollies and reconfiguring parking areas to increase capacity and improve access, arguing the changes would come at minimal cost.
Despite meetings with local representatives and site visits involving authorities, Walker says there has been no meaningful progress.
“They’re aware of the situation – and still nothing’s happened,” he said.
In the meantime, he claims the facility is being used as a storage yard by some operators, with trailers parked haphazardly – at times up to five wide – blocking access and forcing drivers to wait hours to retrieve their equipment.
“It’s bad luck if you want to get to your trailer,” he said.
Walker’s concerns have struck a chord with other drivers, with strong backing across social media from those who regularly use the site.
“This is an urgent matter. I would hate to see someone dying there and I’ve done nothing about it,” he said.
Lockyer MP Jim McDonald said he’d met Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) representatives on the site on two occasions in 2025 and is fighting to see additional road safety and parking measures installed.
“I am also fighting to see increased capacity at the site as it has been very well utilised from the start,” McDonald told Big Rigs.
“I encourage all users of the Gatton pads to drive to the conditions.”
A TMR spokesperson said the department monitors the operation of the Gatton Heavy Vehicle Decoupling Facility (GHVDF) via CCTV and has observed a high level of compliance with safe driving practices at the site.
“The current layout of the GHVDF, including tight entry and exit curves, naturally encourages drivers to reduce their speed to approximately 20km/h, which is consistent with areas where vehicles and pedestrians share space.” the spokesperson said.
TMR has told Big Rigs that enforcing time limits at the Gatton pads is not a priority, as most drivers use it as intended, and encourages users to not use the site for long-term parking.
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