The grain industry underpins the economy of a large number of Local Governments in the south west of Western Australia. An efficient grain supply chain is critical to the success of the industry, and road freight is an important component of the chain. Providing appropriate road infrastructure, and effective management of the road access regime, are critical issues.
Local Government Agricultural Freight Group
Terms of Reference for the Group are:
Objectives
- To achieve an integrated road/rail network to support the agricultural freight task.
- To facilitate the development of local government policy and capacity for a coordinated efficient approach to the use of roads by heavy vehicles in the agricultural freight task.
- To provide input to the Western Australian Local Government Association on the agricultural freight task.
- To provide a forum to promote and advocate an understanding of the issues associated with local roads supporting the agricultural freight task.
- To advocate a community and industry understanding of the issues associated with the agricultural freight task.
The following Councillors are members of the Local Government Agricultural Freight Group:
Chair |
Cr Barry Haywood |
Shire of Goomalling |
Avon-Midland Country Zone |
Delegate |
Cr Barry Haywood |
Shire of Goomalling |
Deputy Delegate |
Cr Chris Antonio |
Shire of Northam |
Central Country Zone |
Delegate |
Cr Katrina Crute |
Shire of Brookton |
Deputy Delegate |
Cr Des Hickey |
Shire of Corrigin |
Great Eastern Country Zone |
Delegate |
Cr Tony Sachse |
Shire of Mount Marshall |
Deputy Delegate |
Cr Mark Crees |
Shire of Westonia |
Great Southern Country Zone |
Delegate |
Cr Russel Thomson |
Shire of Woodanilling |
Deputy Delegate |
No Appointment |
|
Issues under consideration include:
- Engineering Assessment of Tier 3 Rail Network and associated business cases
- tractor speed limits
- regulation of over-sized agricultural machinery movement, and
- maintenance of rural highways.
Revitalising Agricultural Region Freight Strategy
Local Governments are engaged in the development of the freight strategy for agricultural areas which is available
here. The strategy includes development of roads under Local Government control.
Wheatbelt Secondary Freight Network
The
Wheatbelt Secondary Freight Network comprises 4,400 km of Local Government roads that connect with State and National highways to provide access for heavy vehicles into the Wheatbelt Region. A $187.5m program of works has been funded by Federal, State and Local Governments to upgrade the highest priority links to increase freight efficiency and productivity, reduce vehicle operating costs and improve road safety.