The State Opposition is keen to help establish a dedicated roadhouse for truckies in the major transport hub of Dubbo and shake up the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority ( RTA) that’s still under fire for its unilateral decision to cut the speed limit on the Newell Highway.
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In Dubbo to announce more funding for community transport if the Liberals and Nationals win Government in 2011, their spokesperson on transport Gladys Berejiklian expressed surprise and dismay that the city was without a proper truck stop and blasted the RTA for its “incompetence”.
Her comments follow advice that the North Dubbo Caltex station on Gilgandra Road, currently serving as a roadhouse for one of the Newell Highway’s busiest changeover points for drivers, will shut down in April.
It’s not uncommon to see dozens of trucks utilising the site for a rest, says Dubbo-based NatRoad director John Morris who thinks the closure will be a massive blow.
During her visit to Dubbo, Ms Berejiklian sided with the former truckie.
“I’m so concerned to learn that there isn’t a safe roadhouse here in Dubbo given the number of major large vehicles you have coming through,” she said.
“This is an issue we’ll definitely take up and consider.”
Ms Berejiklian said the holiday period had shown “how important it is to stop, revive, survive” for everyone from holidaymakers to business people and truck drivers.
“To learn that there’s no safe place for that to happen here, at the crossroads of major highways, is a huge concern,” she said before suggesting “we could look at possible locations and possible ways in which that situation could be alleviated”.
On the slicing of 10km/h off the Newell Highway speed limit, the Opposition’s spokesperson on transport reiterated its intention to reverse the controversial move should it win government.
“When you’ve got major vehicles and cars and frustrated drivers, that’s when problems occur,” she said.
“When you combine fatigue with frustration, that is a dangerous mix.”
Ms Berejiklian was scathing of the RTA’s failure to consult with “the communities that would be most affected”.
“That smacks of absolute incompetence,” she said.
“We’ve already announced that we would have one integrated transport authority which would centrally plan everything whether it’s in roads or public transport.”
kim.bartley@ruralpress.com
