LBCA demands local government action on livestock loading

Industry group puts pressure on councils over livestock loading stance; says councils “need to come to the table”

 

The body representing livestock transporters in New South Wales is demanding greater action from local governments to help grow the state’s Livestock Loading Scheme (LLS).

A recent review of the scheme found that that LLS had the potential to save producers money and significantly reduce truck movements but was being undermined because many councils had not signed up to the scheme.

The LLS permits eligible livestock trucks to operate at higher mass limits (HML) as long as they have permission from the relevant government to use their road network. Only 21 councils in NSW permit the LLS to operate in their shires.

“The review reflects what transporters have been saying for a long time,” Livestock and Bulk Carriers Association (LBCA) vice president Lynley Miners says.

“The scheme itself is sound and operators have shown their support by signing up and putting drivers through training. What’s missing now is the councils. They need to come to the table. There’s no more excuses, there’s a lot at stake”.

LBCA president Jock Carter says the LLS is important to the entire agricultural supply chain because it supports councils, farmers and transporters.

“A reduction in trucks on roads is good for everyone,” he says.

NSW roads minister Duncan Gay has encouraged councils to participate in the LLS and says the task is before him and his department to make councils aware of the scheme’s value.

The LBCA has welcomed Gay’s comments and says it plans to work with Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) and Transport for NSW to convince councils to allow HML movements on their roads.

“I think there is a lot of misunderstanding among councils about the scheme,” Miners says.

“We’ve got safer trucks and highly trained drivers thanks to the scheme. We want to help everyone understand the value the Livestock Loading Scheme can bring to local communities that are built around agriculture. Every dollar we save in transport goes back to our farmers.”

Trucking operators enrolled in the LLS must put their drivers through an accredited training program and meet other conditions, such as fitting road friendly suspension to their vehicles.

 

Photography: Brad Gardner

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