Mclean shares insights into the HELM™️ platform and the range of benefits it offers – multiple fuel options and common base architecture.
Executive Director Update
Welcome everyone to the “Spooky” news,
Sorry about the bad Halloween pun.
Turning waste into opportunity: Tackling livestock and bulk freight effluent at scale
Last week, ALRTA joined LRTAQ for a valuable meeting with Toowoomba Regional Council, focused on a growing issue across the Southeast Queensland freight network: how to better manage livestock effluent and truckwash availability in Australia’s largest processing corridor.
The numbers speak for themselves. Queensland processes around 11,000 head of cattle alone each day, with total livestock movements across the state reaching approximately 30,000 head daily, not including sheep and pigs. This staggering volume translates into a major challenge for waste and hygiene infrastructure.
But it’s not just about livestock effluent. The lack of multi-use truckwash facilities also presents a serious biosecurity risk, particularly when it comes to commodity cross-contamination, such as fertiliser residues left in grain tippers and other bulk freight movements into ports and feedlots.
During our discussions, we looked at potential infrastructure options, from integrated dump points to wash bays capable of handling multiple commodity types, and even the prospect of reusing captured waste in biodigester systems. The concept is simple but powerful: turn transport waste into a renewable resource.
It was equally encouraging to meet with a potential private investor interested in supporting solutions in this space. There's real appetite for innovation, and collaboration to get this right.
Importantly, this issue is not isolated to Queensland:
This growing momentum across the country tells us one thing: the industry is ready to tackle this problem nationally - and do it properly, with government, local council, and private sector support.
ALRTA is now working with all state member associations to ensure we’re building a unified approach, and I look forward to sharing more details on this exciting initiative in the near future.
In the meantime, if you have ideas, local knowledge, or operational pain points when it comes to effluent management or truckwash infrastructure, please get in touch, either with your state association or directly with me. In particular I would welcome input from our commodity members.
Together, we can help shape the next generation of clean, compliant, and sustainable transport infrastructure for our sector.
NHVR Master Code Review – Raising the bar on Chain of Responsibility
We’re also pleased to update members on ALRTA’s ongoing work with the NHVR Master Code Review Panel.
The Master Code sets out how heavy vehicle operators and supply chain participants can meet their Chain of Responsibility (CoR) obligations. This year’s review includes a focus on improving clarity and accountability for consignors and consignees - an area
ALRTA has strongly advocated for on behalf of rural and livestock transporters.
While we cannot yet share the final revisions (the review is still underway), we can confirm that the updated Master Code will provide clearer, more detailed guidance on the responsibilities of all parties, not just drivers and operators, but those sending and receiving freight as well.
ALRTA is one of only a few transport-specific industry groups appointed to the national review panel. This is a direct reflection of both the quality of our original submission, led by Ashley Mackinnon (ALRTA GM, Policy and Strategy), and the respect the NHVR
holds for ALRTA’s grassroots experience and practical insight.
Our involvement ensures that rural and livestock operators, who are often working in complex supply chains and remote areas, are properly represented in national CoR guidance.
We will provide a full summary once the updated Master Code is publicly released.
Until next week - stay safe.