HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

National Class 3 Supplementary Access (Western Australia Assistance) Exemption Notice 2024 (No.3)

1. Purpose

This Notice exempts eligible Class 3 heavy vehicles that are road trains up to 53.5m in length to a specified network between South Australia to Western Australia. This Notice grants exemptions to certain axle mass requirements under Schedule 1 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL Regulation) and provides alternative conditional mass limits. The purpose of this access is to allow increased freight capacity on alternative specified areas or routes during a period when regular rail and road freight routes are affected by natural disaster.

Note: As a class 3 exemption, this Notice applies to any vehicle that complies with the conditions of this Notice, up to the specified conditional masses. Apart from the exempted mass limits, a vehicle must comply with all other requirements of the Heavy Vehicle National Law.

2.       Authorising provision

1)      This Notice is made under the following provisions of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL):

a)      Section 117 – Regulator’s power to exempt a category of class 1 or class 3 heavy vehicles

3.       Title

This Notice may be cited as the National Class 3 Supplementary Access (Western Australia Assistance) Exemption Notice 2024 (No.3).

4.       Commencement date

This Notice commences on 4 April 2024.

5.       Expiry date

This Notice expires on 10 April 2024.

6.       Definitions

Unless otherwise stated, words and expression used in this Notice have the same

meanings as those in the HVNL and its regulations.

7.       Application

1)      This Notice applies to a heavy vehicle that meets all of the requirements of this section.

2)      This Notice applies to a heavy vehicle that is a class 2 road train that does not exceed 53.5m in length, and that meets the definition of a Type-2 road train under section 6 of the National Class 2 Road Train Authorisation Notice.

3)      This Notice applies to a heavy vehicle that is:

a)      transporting goods from South Australia to Western Australia along the routes specified in section 10; or

b)      making a return journey along the routes specified in section 10 from Western Australia to South Australia after completing a journey under a).

4)      This Notice only applies to a heavy vehicle operating in the stated routes set out in section 10.

5)      A heavy vehicle to which this section applies is an eligible vehicle.

8.       Exemption – Prescribed mass requirements

1)      An eligible vehicle is exempt from the following mass requirements under Schedule 1 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL Regulation):

a)      section 4 – Mass limits for a single axle or axle group

2)      An exemption in 1) only applies to the extent provided by specific conditional mass limits in section 9 of this Notice.

9.       Conditions – Mass (axle masses)

1)      An eligible vehicle operating under this Notice may not exceed the following mass limits relating to axles:

a)      a tandem axle group – 17t

b)      a tri-axle group – 22.5t.

10.   Conditions – Areas and routes

1)      For the purposes of section 121(1)(c) of the HVNL, a network set out in Schedule 1 is a stated areas or routes to which this Notice applies.

2)      An eligible vehicle operating on an areas or routes under this section must comply with the following conditions relevant to it:

a)      Road conditions pursuant to section 160 of HVNL; and

b)      Travel conditions pursuant to section 161 of the HVNL; and

c)       Vehicle conditions pursuant to section 162 of the HVNL.

11.   Conditions – Certified road-friendly suspension systems

1)      The following specified axle groups on eligible vehicles operating under this Notice must be fitted with the following when those axle groups exceed regulation mass limits:

a)      for tandem axle groups – a certified road-friendly suspension system

b)      for tri-axle groups – a certified road-friendly suspension system

2)      Any system or equipment specified in this section must be functioning when an eligible vehicle is operating under this Notice.

12.   Conditions – Mass Management Accreditation

If an eligible vehicle operating under this Notice is fitted with a tri-axle group that exceeds regulation mass limits, the driver of the vehicle must hold mass management accreditation for the vehicle.

Peter Austin

Director (Safety and Productivity)

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator

Schedule 1 Stated areas and routes

1. Areas or routes

1)      Table 1 sets out stated routes pursuant to section 10 of this Notice. An eligible vehicle may operate on the route set out in column 1 under the conditions noted in column 2 or each table.

2.       Condition – Continuity of route

1)      An eligible vehicle must follow the route specified in Table 1 or 2 either:

a)      from the route’s start point to its end point; or

b)      on a return journey after a journey under a) from the route’s end point to its start point.

2)      The start and end point of the route are specified in Column 2 of each table.

Table 1: Stated Route – Lincoln Gap to Western Australia Border

Note: Regardless of any conditions in Column 2 of Table 1 in this Schedule, all official traffic signs must be complied with.

Caution to be taken at the intersection of Eyre Hwy from Lincoln Hwy. A left turn cannot be commenced until intersection is clear.

Rail clearance should be obtained prior to travel pursuant to rail owner requirements.