Small fleet operator Jo Veneman, who is a director of North Queensland company Renewable Homes, was shocked to receive a $1000 bill to cross the Burdekin Bridge recently.
The busy freight bridge on the Bruce Highway is located between Ayr and Home Hill and road users and trains have to share it due to the way the bridge was engineered.
“It doesn’t accommodate anything bigger than a garbage truck to easily cross over. It is the only bridge on the Bruce Highway that must close down entirely to allow anything bigger than a garbage truck to pass over it,” said Jo.
As she explained, “It is managed by Queensland Rail and Transport and Main Roads. Bridge closures occur 10-15 times every day so that road operators (anything bigger than a garbage truck) can pass over the bridge and are generally charged $66 each time – equating to approximately $361,350 per year.”
Jo revealed that when one of her trucks needed to cross the bridge with a 6-metre wide, 5.2-metre high load, Queensland Rail ordered a track protection officer but couldn’t find staff – and so it was contracted out to another service who charged her over $1000 to cross the bridge.
“I understand that Queensland Rail are having difficulties managing their assets but to only have one approved contractor to have the monopoly is not on because they charge what they charge just because they can. It’s daylight robbery. And it’s not okay,” Jo said.
Big Rigs has approached Queensland Rail for comment.
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