MORE rural roads in Goulburn Mulwaree could be freed up for B-double trucks under a council proposal to make livestock carrying easier.
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But while the industry is applauding the plan, residents are yet to be consulted.
The proposal is not home and hosed yet. Bridge loading capacities on each of the roads have to be assessed, ensuring they can take the weight.
Councillors decided at their most recent meeting that the roads should be at least considered for B-doubles.
They are: Brisbane Grove Rd, Chinamans Lane, Currawang Rd (Braidwood Rd to council boundary); Gurrundah Rd (starting at Deccan St, Addison and extending to Pomeroy Rd), Painters Lane, Range Rd (Deccan St to boundary), Taralga Rd (Ross St to boundary and Windellama Rd (Brisbane Grove to Oallen Ford Rd).
The decision came despite a staff recommendation to the December 4 traffic committee meeting that only Taralga Rd be approved as a B-double route.
A report to that meeting assessed the roads’ suitability based on sealed width, structure width (bridges, culverts and causeways) and infrastructure loading.
It concluded that only Brisbane Grove and Taralga Rds were satisfactory and it would be pointless to have the former as a B-double route as it “would not lead anywhere.”
On Currawang Rd, where the bridge has been demolished, staff said the adjacent causeway was only a temporary structure and was “not satisfactory.” Three other causeways on the thoroughfare were also deemed unsatisfactory.
On Range Rd, Rossi Bridge with its 42.5 tonne limit was described as unsuitable for Bdoubles, while Dixon Creek and Mummel Bridges would need structural assessments, costing $7000 to $10,000 each.
In terms of width, Chinamans Lane, Currawang Rd, Gurrundah Rd, Painters Lane, Range Rd and Windellama Rd were judged unsatisfactory.
Engineering services manager Ian Aldridge concluded that assessments of load capability on six bridges were “not necessary” given that the roads did not meet other criteria for B-double use.
But the committee, chaired by Cr Andrew Banfield, overturned this and endorsed the B-double routes, pending bridge assessments. Cr Banfield told the Post the issue had been on Council books for more than two years. Livestock carters concerned about animal welfare and carrying efficiencies had led the push.
He defended the committee’s decision.
“The RMS has guidelines in place to assess roads’ suitability for B-doubles but at the end of the day, they are just guidelines,” Cr Banfield said.
“…As operators are fully aware, the responsibility comes back to the user.”
He said current load limits on roads and bridges meant graziers and carriers had to make several trips to saleyards, posing animal welfare issues and reducing profitability.
Cr Banfield acknowledged that some of the roads needed work in terms of widening and straightening out bends. While carriers have been consulted about the possible B-double routes, residents in general have not.
Council general manager Warwick Bennett said this would occur following the bridge assessments as there was no point doing it beforehand.
A council will enlist a consultant early next year to assess six bridges and causeways for their loading capacities.
Each assessment will cost $7000 to $10,000 each.
“We don’t have the expertise to do it ourselves,” Mr Bennett said.
“It’s quite a bit of money but in terms of the long-term benefits to the agricultural industry in the region it’s not a substantial amount if it means getting product to the market and the Hume Highway in a more efficient manner.”
He will ask councillors in February to allocate funds for the assessments and then call expressions of interest from consultants.
“We need to keep pressure on the state government to replace some of these bridges when they are important to getting agricultural produce out,” Mr Bennett said.
