ALRTA Fortnightly News - 17 January 2025 UPDATE

Repco: Partner of the Week

ALRTA Executive Director Update

Welcome to 2025!

I hope you and your families had a restful and safe break.

Firstly, I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge the incredible work of transport operators over the Christmas and New Year period. Many of you went above and beyond to support communities affected by natural disasters, including bushfires and flooding. Your resilience, dedication, and willingness to step up during challenging times have been invaluable in keeping essential goods and livestock moving. Thank you for your tireless efforts and commitment to supporting rural Australia when it matters most.

There were some exciting developments over the break:

Bruce Highway Funding Boost: A Win for Rural Transport

In very welcome news for the transport industry, there was an announcement of significant new funding for the Bruce Highway. This investment is a critical step in addressing the unique challenges faced by rural and livestock transport operators who rely heavily on this vital corridor. With its 1,700km spanning from Brisbane to Cairns, the Bruce Highway is a lifeline for communities and industries in Queensland. Its upgrades promise not only economic benefits but also improvements to safety and reliability for all users.

A very big thank you to Athol Carter for organising a ride along with Bart Mellish MP, former Minister for Transport and Main Roads, on the Bruce in the lead up to the QLD Election. This ride along highlighted the significant safety concerns and need for investment on this critical freight route.

Photo Credit: Big Rigs Newspaper

Funding Overview The federal and Queensland governments have committed an additional $400 million to upgrade key sections of the Bruce Highway. This funding will target areas with high accident rates, improve flood resilience, and enhance connectivity for regional and remote communities. The plan includes:

• Widening and strengthening narrow sections to better accommodate heavy vehicles.
• Upgrading intersections to reduce congestion and improve flow.
• Improving flood resilience to minimise disruptions during extreme weather events.
• Boosting safety ratings through better road surfaces, signage, and barriers.

The Importance of Safety Ratings in Road Investment For those of us in the livestock and rural transport sectors, road safety is paramount. Our work often involves transporting live animals, oversized loads, and essential goods across vast distances. Poor road conditions can increase wear and tear on vehicles, pose hazards to drivers, and compromise the welfare of livestock.

Investing in roads with a focus on improving safety ratings directly addresses these issues. According to the Australian Road Assessment Program (AusRAP), roads with higher safety ratings have significantly fewer accidents and lower associated costs. By prioritising upgrades that enhance safety, such as better visibility, safer intersections, and wider lanes, we not only reduce the risk of incidents but also support smoother, more efficient transport operations.

What This Means for Operators The latest funding announcements are a positive step, but there is still work to be done to ensure that all rural and regional roads meet acceptable safety standards. As operators, we should advocate for ongoing investment and push for transparency in how funds are allocated. Ensuring upgrades benefit key transport routes, including feeder roads to the Bruce Highway, will be critical in maximising the impact of this funding.

In the meantime, we encourage all operators to remain vigilant about road conditions and report hazards to local authorities. Collaboration between industry, government, and community stakeholders will be essential in shaping a transport network that meets the needs of rural Australia.

Looking Ahead The upgrades to the Bruce Highway are part of a broader commitment to improving regional infrastructure. As these projects progress, we will continue to provide updates on how they affect our industry. Remember, safer roads benefit everyone – from drivers and operators to the communities we serve.

Tunnel Trial in Melbourne

Another important development is the ongoing tunnel trial in Melbourne specifically for livestock carriers. This trial aims to assess the feasibility and impact of allowing livestock transport through certain urban tunnels, providing a potentially faster and more direct route for operators. Early feedback suggests that this could significantly reduce transit times while maintaining high standards of animal welfare. Operators involved in the trial are encouraged to share their experiences to help shape future policy decisions.  A very big shout out to Alina Hawkins and LRTAV for their tireless advocacy that has brought about this trial.

Let’s keep pushing for a safer, more reliable transport network to support our vital work in connecting rural Australia.

Stay safe and keep rolling!

Until next time,

Rach 

P.S in 2025 ALRTA news will move to a fortnightly release.  If you have anything newsworthy that should be included, please email office@alrta.org.au.  

ALRTA Turns 40! Share your stories with us.

This year, ALRTA is celebrating 40 years of working with our members, state associations, and partners to support rural transport—and we want you to be part of it!

We’d love to hear your stories and see any photos you have from over the years. Maybe it’s a memory from a past event, something funny that happened at a conference, or stories your parents or grandparents have told you about being part of this industry.

We’ll be showing off these memories at the joint LBRCA conference in April, and for your efforts, the best story or photo will win a $250 fuel voucher, donated by our long-term partner Lowes Petroleum Services! 

It’s a great way to look back and celebrate everything we’ve achieved together. Whether you’ve been around since the early days or just joined recently, we want to hear from you.

Got something to share? Send your stories and photos to office@alrta.org.au.

The winner will be announced on social media and in our newsletter on 28th February 2025 - so get in quick!

And if you haven't taken advantage of your member benefits through Lowes, check out our website for more information https://alrta.org.au/lowes

Rules:

• All participants must be members of one of our state associations.
• Entries must be received no later than 20th February 2025.
• The winner will be chosen by the ALRTA Executive and announced on 28th February 2025.

Celebrating 40 years of the ALRTA at the LBRCA National Rural Carriers Convention

4-5 April 2025 | Canberra

The 2025 National Rural Carriers Convention will be held in Canberra at Thoroughbred Park, the home of horse racing Canberra.

LBRCA is hosting the Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) to bring to you the largest gathering of rural carriers in Australia to celebrate 40 years of the ALRTA.  

Our event will provide a unique opportunity for the rural transport industry from across Australia to meet and reflect on the past 40 years and focus on the next forty.

Our dynamic program, focusing on genuine issues, people, and solutions, will feature Ministers, regulators, state and federal transport authorities, local government representatives, supply chain partners and transporters from all federation partners including the LRTAWA, LRTAV, LRTASA, LRTAQ and LTAT.

Save the dates for 2025

• LBRCA/ALRTA National Combined Conference. 4 – 5 April 2025, Thoroughbred Park, CANBERRA ACT -  REGISTER HERE 
• LRTAQ State Conference. 13-14 February 2025, Gold Coast Turf Club & Event Centre, QLD - MORE INFO HERE 
• LRTASA State Conference. 13-14 June 2025, Adelaide SA 
• LRTAV State Conference. 8-9 August 2025, Move Museum, Shepparton, VIC - MORE INFO HERE  
• LRTAWA State Conference.  INFORMATION COMING SOON 

Our Trusted Partners