Better planning, coordination and regulation

• Bypasses and heavy vehicle alternate routes (Parkes Bypass — in planning — Australian Government (committed $100 million) — NSW, Dubbo Bridge/Bypass — in planning — NSW, Coonabarabran heavy vehicle alternate route – in planning – NSW)
• Heavy duty pavement (North Moree — in planning — NSW, Narrabri to Moree — in planning — NSW)
• East-west connection upgrades (Mitchell Highway — construction underway — NSW, Kamilaroi Highway — construction underway — NSW)
• Flooding mitigation (Forbes to West Wyalong — in planning — NSW (committed $200 million))

• $82.3 million for border services that enhance Hobart Airport’s role as a direct international gateway;
• $576 million to replace the Bridgewater Bridge, a key part of the Hobart to Burnie freight corridor;
• A range of projects to reduce traffic congestion around Greater Hobart; and
• Ongoing strategic collaboration and governance between the Tasmanian Government and four councils through the Greater Hobart Act 2019, including enhanced integration of transport and land use planning.

Projects to reduce road congestion on the southern, northern and eastern inlets are progressing in line with the Hobart City Deal Implementation Plan. Work continues on the commencement of international flights from Hobart Airport, which will include significant freight between Tasmania and overseas markets.

• The rezoning of the Mamre Road precinct was recently announced, protecting the Intermodal Terminal in Western Sydney.
• Further integrated freight planning is being undertaken with the Western Parkland City Authority.
• The Western Sydney Freight Line has been partially protected and further protection work is to be undertaken on the line and the Outer Sydney Orbital.

• Purchasing Australia’s first government-owned stock to store in the United States’ Strategic Petroleum Reserve;
• Working with interested parties to increase Australia’s domestic fuel storage capacity; and,
• Working with the refining sector to secure Australia’s future refining capability.

The Australian Fuel Security package has been informed by the work done under the Liquid Fuel Security Review. The review is being updated in light of the bushfire and COVID-19 crises of this year.

• Protecting strategic and other significant freight transport corridors from incompatible urban encroachment; and
• Ensuring that transport infrastructure and land-use can mutually exist within urban corridors.

• Port of Geraldton Master Plan – endorsed by the Minister for Ports in 2020.
• Port of Port Hedland (Land Use) Master Plan 2030 – completed and approved for internal use. Currently awaiting corporate approvals to release externally. It will replace the Port of Port Hedland Port Development Plan 2012-16.
• Port of Dampier (Land Use) Master Plan 2030 – Completed and available for internal use. Awaiting corporate approvals to release externally (replaces Port of Dampier Port Development Plan 2010-20 & Port of Dampier Land Use and Infrastructure Plan published in 2014).
• Port of Broome Master Plan – current Master Plan was prepared in 2017. The plan will not be updated until 2022 and will include other Kimberley Ports (Derby, Yampi Sound and Wyndham).
• Port of Ashburton Port Master Plan 2050 – current Master Plan was prepared in 2017. The plan is scheduled for an update and review in late 2020, following recent commissioning of the port.
• Proposed Port of Anketell Port Master Plan – latest Master Plan was prepared in 2014. The Pilbara Ports Authority will review and update the master plan following the port and infrastructure corridor being transferred to Pilbara Ports Authority and the port proclamation.

The Port of Esperance Master Plan is currently in progress. Work is expected to commence sometime in August, following award of the project to a consultant. Development of the Port of Bunbury and Port of Albany Master Plans has not yet commenced. The scope of work for both the master plans are currently being prepared, with work on both scheduled to commence in 2020-21. The Port of Fremantle Master Plan is on hold, awaiting completion of the Westport: Ports and Environs Strategy.

• Phase 1 - the Pilot Phase tests the assessment principles with pilot councils and jurisdictions (in progress).
• Phase 2 - the Delivery Phase will roll out the Project to a larger number of councils (commencing soon).

• to increase assistance for high-density goods to 100 per cent;
• reduce the claim processing time from 35 to 30 days; and
• introduce interest on late payments beyond the 30 days.

As at 3 July 2020, the fourth element - to implement assistance for the shipment from the mainland to Tasmania of eligible imported goods that do not have an Australian equivalent - is under consideration by the Australian Government.

• a new Victorian road network for 36.5m A-doubles;
• access for the first time (under notice) in South Australia for 30m A-doubles, 36.5m B-triples and AB-triples, and rigid trucks towing two dog trailers; and
• simplified and more nationally consistent conditions for road trains supporting more seamless cross-border access.

Heavy Vehicle Productivity Plan 2020-2025
The NHVR has developed a Heavy Vehicle Productivity Plan 2020-2025, with two key goals to improve Performance Based Standards (PBS) vehicles access and the PBS scheme. The Plan and actions related to PBS were developed through extensive consultation with governments at all levels and industry and include:

• provide greater access certainty for PBS vehicles, and
• deliver PBS 2.0 – a modern approach to the PBS scheme.

• National Class 1 Agricultural Vehicle and Combination Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice
• The National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice
• The National Class 2 Road Train Notice

The NHVR is continuing the National Harmonisation Program and has commenced a review of:

• National Grain Harvest Management Schemes
• National Livestock Loading Schemes

National Notice Advisory GroupThe NHVR established a National Heavy Vehicle Notice Advisory Group in 2020 to provide a forum in which the NHVR and state and territory government members may discuss notice development – ensuring that national outcomes are supported as much as possible with input accounting for local needs and knowledge.

Expansion of pre-approved and gazetted networks
Expansion of pre-approved and gazetted networks provides industry with greater efficiency and certainty, through reducing permit issue timeframes or removing permit requirements respectively. The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator has enhanced its data-sharing capabilities, and consulted with jurisdictions to develop reporting and heat mapping capabilities of data collected from historic access permit applications through the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator Portal. This is currently undergoing further consultation, testing and refinement, with estimated release to road managers at the end of 2020. This will greatly improve transparency, and provide the evidence base to further expand pre-approved and gazetted networks, including identifying network opportunities not previously considered.

Heavy Vehicle Productivity Plan 2020-2025
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator has developed a Heavy Vehicle Productivity Plan 2020-2025, in partnership with governments at all levels and industry. The process included workshops with all local government associations in participating jurisdictions, and consultation with over 50 local government road managers in participating jurisdictions. The Plan has ‘Partner with local government to build capability’ as one of its three objectives. Goals under this objective include:

• Develop an education and support program on heavy vehicle performance and route assessments
• Equip road managers with route assessment products
• Deliver digital and data solutions to enable improved government and industry decision-making

Approved Guidelines for Granting Access
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator published the revised Approved Guidelines for Granting Access in November 2019. It contains guidance and clarity on aspects of heavy vehicle access decision making under the Heavy Vehicle National Law.

• Key international markets for export
• High-value perishable export commodities (such as beef, lamp, summerfruits, aquaculture, pork and dairy)
• Production regions in NSW
• 60 potential regional airport locations
• Supply chain including existing infrastructure and operational requirements

Initial findings from the report show that investments in improving regional air freight supply chains may be feasible, but further investigation is needed to ensure public money is committed to the areas that will produce the best results for NSW producers. The NSW Government will now focus on the next phase of investigation, which involves in-depth analysis of market demand and the supply chain, industry engagement and an economic, commercial and financial evaluation of the opportunity. This work is expected to be completed in 2020. See also ACT’s update at initiative 320, below.

• National B-double Notice,
• National Road Train Notice,
• National Agricultural Vehicle Notice,
• National Performance Based Standards Notice (underway).

• Implementing harmonised national standards, accreditation, and processes to remove layers of red tape for pilot and escort vehicle arrangements, as part of the Medlock review outcomes;
• Introducing a Heavy Vehicle Accreditation module; and
• Considering policy or regulations to boost the uptake of telematics in Oversize Overmass vehicles.

The WA Government continues to retain its membership on the national working group and adopt recommendations where appropriate and relevant to the WA environment.

• 1 July 2017 – piece-level examination of all outbound air cargo destined for the United States of America. Introduction of the Known Consignor scheme as an alternative to piece-level examination by assuring secure origination of air cargo.
• 1 March 2019 – piece-level examination of all outbound international air cargo or secure origination from a Known Consignor.
• 1 June 2020 – domestic air cargo originating from Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane or Adelaide requires piece-level examination prior to uplift or secure origination from a Known Consignor.
• 1 June 2021 – domestic air cargo originating from any Australian airport requires examination prior to uplift or secure origination from a Known Consignor.

• Establishing a single online portal for proponents to interact with the environmental assessment process making the pathway clearer and simpler.
• Developing a digital environment assessment system to deliver a streamlined, digital process for proponents and assessors that reduces the complexity and makes it faster and easier to compete the assessment process.
• Building a biodiversity data repository to store and share information collected by proponents (e.g. wildlife surveys) to enable reuse of data and reduce costs.

These projects will see a transition from unstructured reports and non-reusable data to data collected in standard formatted for sharing and reuse. The portal and assessment system will be co-designed with the Western Australian Government as a pilot, with a vision of national rollout if it is successful. The biodiversity repository will look at seeking a national approach to some biodiversity data standards and enable the different state or territory repositories to be linked, so data can be shared. The Australian Government allocated $26.8 million over three years from 2019-20 for the program. The program is on track and projects commenced in April 2020. Project teams have been created and planning documents have been completed. The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment is commencing needs analyses involving consultation across a range of stakeholder groups (e.g. states, territories, research entities, etc.).

Congestion Busting
In November 2019, the Australian Government committed $25 million (to June 2021) to reduce unnecessary delays in environmental approvals under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The focus of this effort has been on improving service delivery, recruiting extra assessment officers, reducing the backlog of decisions and progressing assessment of major projects. Since the start of ‘congestion busting’ funding, performance has increased from 19 per cent of key decisions being made on time in the December 2019 quarter to 98 per cent on time in the June 2020 quarter. The backlog of decisions has reduced from 78 key decisions across 57 projects to 26 decisions across 22 projects (at 30 June 2020). These improvements have supported strong economic development while ensuring the protection of Australia’s unique heritage and environment. In line with the Prime Minister’s announcement on 15 June 2020, 15 major projects will be fast tracked in partnership with states and territories. This includes transport infrastructure projects such as Inland Rail from Melbourne to Brisbane, and rail and road projects in Western Australia. The assessment of major projects will occur under existing legislative frameworks.

Queensland
The Queensland State Infrastructure Plan identifies reforms to improve the service performance through an amendment of existing institutions and laws as the preferred approach to regulatory change, safety and environmental standards, land use planning controls, access regimes and licensing. Queensland has also developed dredging management plans for the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area Ports.

Western Australia
The WA Government is progressing amendments to the Environmental Protection Act 1986 to improve regulatory efficiency and to facilitate the implementation of bilateral agreements under the Australian Government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Negotiations with the Australian Government to update the assessment bilateral agreement are currently underway. The WA Government’s $28 million commitment to establish Environment Online, a digital ‘one-stop shop’ for environmental assessments, approvals and compliance, will improve regulatory efficiency, including reducing assessment timeframes for major projects

• Lead development of national environmental standards which will underpin new bilateral agreements with states.
• Commence discussions with willing states to enter agreements for single touch approvals (removing duplication by accrediting states to carry out environmental assessments and approvals on the Australian Government’s behalf).
• Commence a national engagement process for modernising the protection of indigenous cultural heritage, commencing with a round table meeting of state indigenous and environment ministers. This will be jointly chaired by the Minister for the Environment, the Hon Sussan Ley MP, and the Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP.
• Explore market based solutions for better habitat restoration that will significantly improve environmental outcomes while providing greater certainty for business. The Minister for the Environment will establish an environmental markets expert advisory group.

Queensland
Queensland is actively engaged with the review of the HVNL, in conjunction with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and industry. Queensland's input to the review of the HVNL will emphasise providing opportunities to maximise the safe application new heavy vehicle technologies, such as for automated vehicles.

Australian Capital Territory
The ACT applied all chapters of the HVNL without derogation on 1 July 2019 and transitioned services to the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator at the same time. The ACT has also applied all HVNL and regulation amendments scheduled for commencement. The ACT continues to engage in the review of the HVNL through the Jurisdiction Strategic Oversight Panel and is currently considering the National Transport Commission’s Consultation Regulation Impact Statement and supports the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator through the National Policy and Strategy Group and the National Policy and Operational Forum.