Heavy vehicle safety services across NSW will have a new home from 1 August with the transition of key regulatory functions from Transport for NSW to the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR).
Tara McCarthy, Deputy Secretary of Safety, Environment and Regulation at Transport for NSW said the transition was the next step toward nationally consistent compliance for all heavy vehicle operators travelling across NSW.
“Heavy vehicles travelling within and through NSW will benefit from this next step in building a single, consistent national regulator for the heavy vehicle industry,” Ms McCarthy said.
“From 1 August roadside enforcement, investigations, prosecutions, and scheduled heavy vehicle inspections currently provided by Transport for NSW, will be some of the services transferring to the NHVR, along with 340 Transport for NSW staff who currently support the industry.
“The NSW Government has worked closely with the NHVR over the past 18 months to ensure the NHVR will be able to maintain or improve both the standard of transitioning services and also heavy vehicle safety standards in NSW. This will support the work the NHVR is doing across other states.
“This is part of a national reform program that will make the regulation of heavy vehicle movements across Australia even safer and more efficient.”
The NHVR will continue to deliver services from the more than 200 existing Heavy Vehicle Inspection Stations, safety stations and on-road enforcement sites across NSW. The most noticeable change for operators will be that the current Transport for NSW Compliance Operations Inspectors will become NHVR Safety and Compliance Officers.
Transport for NSW will continue to provide a number of other important heavy vehicle services, including licensing, registration and tow truck investigations and compliance.
NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said the transition of services would support the NHVR’s goal of borderless regulation of heavy vehicles and improved consistency for operators.
“This transition is another step in reducing the impact of state borders on the movement of freight across Australia,” Mr Petroccitto said. “We’ll be working with industry to ensure the transition is as seamless as possible.
“With more than half of all Australian heavy vehicle movements occurring within or through NSW, this state is vital for the safety and productivity of the heavy vehicle industry.
“In particular we’ll be working with our staff to ensure a more consistent approach to compliance and enforcement regardless of where you’re intercepted.”
The NHVR was established in 2013 as a statutory authority to administer the Heavy Vehicle National Law, which applies in all Australia's states and territories except the Northern Territory and Western Australia.
NSW is the fifth Australian jurisdiction—after South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT—where the NHVR will be directly delivering heavy vehicle regulatory services.
For more details on the transition visit www.nhvr.gov.au/about-us/national-services-transition