NSW Police team up with NHVR for heavy transport information sessions

NSW Police held the first of multiple transport information sessions in Narrabri and Moree, at the Narrabri Aquatic Centre multi-purpose room, on Thursday, April 11.

Headed by Senior Constable George Perrett from Narrabri Traffic and Highway Patrol, the information day for the heavy transport industry focussed on the cotton harvest season, during which transport activities will have a follow-on effect throughout the year.

Giving correct industry information regarding the correct exemptions, notices, dimensions, loading requirements and restraints, and the chain of responsibility as well as fatigue management, was at the forefront of education.

“We’re hoping to create an environment where people can come in and ask questions and find the right answers and have a safe and productive harvest,” said Snr Const Perrett.

“This is the second year that the sessions have been held.”

Snr Const Perrett noticed the need for more awareness while out patrolling local areas and getting feedback about the lack of awareness from the industry.

This allowed NSW Police to enhance and gather information.

The sessions are held in collaboration with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), Transport for NSW, and the local shire council.

The NHVR is a national regulatory body for heavy vehicles all over Australia except the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

The information session ran from 10am, with two presentations and an open forum for attendees to raise concerns and ask questions.

“We’re hoping to get the correct information out there so the industry can operate safely and have a productive harvest,” said Snr Const Perrett.

Dimensions and load restraint safety and fatigue are some of the key areas that Snr Cnst Perrett hopes to address, as well as driver fatigue during long-haul travel.

Members of the agricultural and transport industry, companies as well as drivers and operators, as well as Narrabri highway patrol, were all present for the session.

Stakeholder engagement officer for NHVR covering all of NSW, Bethany Magill helped to conduct the event last year in collaboration with Snr Const Perrett, and thought it was a great opportunity to get in touch with the industry before the cotton harvest and make sure everyone was on the same page in terms of compliance and safety measures.

“These types of regions like Narrabri and Moree are such key agricultural hubs and require such massive movements of industry that hold a lot of value to this region,” said Bethany.

“Hopefully our involvement holds as much value, seeing as it’s such a honey hole for this type of industry.”