Through the HVRA, the Australian Government has committed $140 million over 10 years for the construction of new and upgraded heavy vehicle rest areas.
A steering committee is ensuring drivers and the road transport industry have a voice in shaping projects to be funded under the HVRA. The steering committee is chaired by Senator Glenn Sterle, and includes five long-haul truck drivers and four industry representatives.
Working closely with the steering committee, the Government has now incorporated a dedicated criterion for heavy vehicle rest area funding into updated guidelines for the existing Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program and Bridges Renewal Program.
This will allow project proposals from state, territory and local governments to be assessed against this criterion, ensuring high-quality projects are funded.
Minor administrative improvements have also been made to the overarching guidelines. For example, other Australian Government funding can now be used as a co‑contribution, and projects with a changed scope, timeframe or cost will no longer have to be re‑submitted as a new project. Details of these changes can be found on the Infrastructure Investment Program website.
A survey has also been developed for truck drivers and interested road users to provide input on rest areas.
