Blue Mountains City Council has partnered with NSW Roads and Maritime Service on a campaign to help all roads users to safely enjoy the roads in the area.
A committee was established in May 2015 to address the increased number of heavy vehicles in the area, following the completion of the Great Western Highway where freight transport is predicted to double by 2031.
In particular, the Drive Neighbourly Agreement (DNA) responds to community concerns and perceptions about the impacts of ever increasing number of heavy vehicles using the Great Western Highway, Bells Line of Road, the Darling Causeway and Hawkesbury Road.
Under the campaign, the committee will be calling on the heavy vehicle industry and responsible agencies to enter into a voluntary DNA, which commits them to operating in a safe and courteous manner alongside other road users.
The Blue Mountains DNA Committee was established in May 2015 and includes representatives from the Heavy Vehicle Industry, including company CEOs, owners, drivers, logistic managers, the Australian Trucking Association, Member for Blue Mountains and Blue Mountains City Council.
It has identified education and safety for all road users, improvements to heavy vehicle rest areas, management of the road network and improvements to vehicle manufacturing as key priorities to address in the region.
To date the project has not been faced with any noteworthy challenges from stakeholders.
“The Drive Neighbourly Agreement aims to promote positive driver behaviour, improve residential amenity, and improve safety for all users of state roads across the City,” said Deputy Mayor, Councillor Chris Van der Kley - also a Committee member.
“While heavy vehicles play an important role in the delivery of goods to the Blue Mountains and beyond, it is important that it is done safely and to the highest standards of driver behaviour.”
Blue Mountains City Council’s top tips on how can you implement a similar scheme in your council?
1. Secure the support of the elected Council and executive management;
2. Ensure you have a detailed understanding of issues that directly affect residents, road users and Heavy Vehicle drivers/owner/operators;
3. Where possible, target high-level users of roads. (The City of Blue Mountains only have 3 main roads so this makes it easier);
4. Understand the freight-tasking for heavy vehicles. The City of Blue Mountains has primarily the same drivers/companies running multiple trips a day on the major roaways, for freight such as coal and gravel products out of Hartley/Oberon and Clarence. We also have a number of large companies such as Vella and Finemore that are high-level users of the Great Western Highway and service local supermarkets/commercial centres;
5. Engage with the community very early in the planning for a DNA; and
6. Engage with relevant agencies such as Freight NSW and RMS.