A new $41 million injection of road repair funding by the Victorian Government is welcome but the National Road Transport Association (NatRoad) said it’s imperative that operators keep reporting damage as it becomes apparent.
NatRoad said truckies must continue to be the eyes and ears of state and territory road agencies as floodwaters recede and new road dangers emerge.
“The Andrews government’s roadworks commitment now stands at $165 million but the extent of repair bills right around Australia isn’t yet clear,” said NatRoad chairman Paul Fellows who is also general manager of Deniliquin-based Fellows Bulk Transport.
“The best thing operators can do is keep reporting issues to the relevant transport authorities, whether they be states or local councils.
“Stay active on your UHF radio and let other operators know when you see a new road issue.
“These problems aren’t going away soon so our industry needs to continue to take a reporting lead.”
Fellows said he’s finding that his fleet’s shock absorbers are suffering the worst as a result of the damaged road surfaces.
“I’m finding real issues with bushes on the shockers on trailers, and big issues with wiring,” he said.
“One of my prime movers, a cabover, broke a wire that caused me major issues.
“Something we need to be mindful of is our running gear, tyre condition, rim condition, and particularly those shockers.”
Victoria’s north, west and south-west areas are the latest to receive funding.
Works to be delivered include road re-building, large-scale asphalt patching and resurfacing, landslip repairs, clearing debris from roadsides, drains and culverts and repairing structures.
As of late last month, some 370 roads remained closed in Victoria alone
Earlier in January, the NSW Government opened a $500m road repair fund.
Major roads in north-western Western Australia remain closed, while some 14 local government areas across Queensland’s Gulf of Carpentaria and Cape York Peninsula regions recently became eligible for emergency funding.
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