MRWA October 2021 Newsletter

Welcome!  We hope the latest edition of our industry newsletter finds you healthy and safe.  Although Spring is in the air, theres still been alot of rain and some cold weather, but we're looking forward to the warmer days ahead. In this edition, you will find information about:Changes to the WAHVA certification processOur #BiggerThanYou Safety Campaign 2.0The Customer Personas review we're doingOur participation in regional eventsQuarterly statistics from our operationsOur final industry workshop and information session for 2021 will be held this month in the Metropolitan Region.  Registrations quickly filled up for this session and we are now looking to develop the 2022 series.  If you’re wanting to participate in next year’s round of regional workshops, let us know here.  We’d like to thank those of you who provided feedback via My Say Transport on the various consultation pieces over the last couple of months.  You have assisted in informing work that ranged from changes to operating conditions, through to planned amendments to WAHVA module standards, audit report and business rules. HVS Statistics On an ad-hoc basis we receive requests to provide statistics relating to our business activities.  We’ve put together the table below which provides readers with a comparison to the April - June figures.  Review on Customer Personas We’re reviewing our Customer Personas, that were established in 2017, and may need your help in the upcoming months to make sure we're on the right track.  The personas represent the different customer segments or types that Main Roads communicates with.  Understanding our customer segments has been critical in the delivery of a number of digital experience initiatives over the past four years including the website. As part of this overall process HVS will seek your feedback through various channels including our workshop and information sessions and an online survey.  Please have your say if you get the chance.  Your feedback will help us deliver services, initiatives and communications that meet your needs now, and into the future.HVS Workshops and Information Sessions Since the last edition, we’ve held HVS Workshops and Information sessions in Port Hedland and Broome and have the last one for the year, in Perth.   Thanks again to those of you that have taken the time to come along and participate. As a result of feedback from these workshops, we have implemented a number of improvements, with more to come. These included clarifying pilot roles and responsibilities, rewording conditions to remove ambiguity, amending Traffic Guidance Schemes, improving webpage layouts, increasing dimension limits under certain products, and reviewing access restrictions.  We’re also currently assessing an eight-tyre per axle low loader period permit and developing new Orders to replace the basic Period Permits.  Independent session facilitator, Joey Armenti, said ‘There has been some really strong participation and really good ideas coming forward and the feedback from people attending has been very positive.’   We are currently looking at developing next year’s series of workshops.  You can register your interest for the next series of HVS workshops and information sessions via this form, email or call the Heavy Vehicle Helpdesk on 138 486.  Changes to Operating Conditions Driven by feedback received during our Industry Workshop and Information Sessions held across the state, the following operating conditions have been updated:Single Trip OSOM Vehicle Standard Operating Conditions Class 1 RAV Oversize Period Permit Operating Conditions Special Purpose Vehicle Standard Operating ConditionsThank you to those who took the time and opportunity to offer feedback about the proposed changes, via the My Say Transport website.  The comments received have been considered and where appropriate, incorporated into these changes.Administration of WAHVA Certification Process We administer the Western Australian Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme (WAHVA). To maintain the integrity of the WAHVA scheme, external independent auditors conduct audits on accredited operators systems.  These auditors were certified by an external agency, Exemplar Global, for a number of years. In September 2021, Main Roads took on the training and certification of WAHVA Auditors. Those who wish to retain their WAHVA Auditor Certification, will have until 31 March 2022 to transition to the MRWA certification and training.  Further information is available on our website. #BiggerThanYou Safety Campaign After the success of our award-winning #BiggerThanYou campaign, we recently hit the market again, this time focussing on what road users should do when approaching large, slow moving agricultural machinery.  Feedback from industry and local farmers is, quite simply, that there are too many near misses due to driver inattention, driver frustration or road users not driving to the conditions.With harvest season commencing, and bumper crops due to the record wet winter, the new, agriculturally focussed campaign, provides a timely reminder to slow down, be patient and stay safe. Launched in January 2021, the #BiggerThanYou education campaign has helped increase awareness of Restricted Access Vehicles (RAVs), including Over Size Over Mass (OSOM) loads, travelling on the road network. The first run of the campaign highlighted how to safely interact with RAVs that are much wider, longer and slower than your average vehicle, while also explaining the roles of Traffic Escort Wardens and Heavy Vehicle Pilots. Led by television and radio advertisements which aired on metropolitan, regional and catch-up television, and supported by an extensive social media campaign, #BiggerThanYou was well received by the public, and industry, and was awarded this year's WA Rural Media Award for Best Communications Campaign. Post-campaign research indicated that the campaign conveyed clear, key messages and that the communications were engaging, memorable and well liked. More importantly, more than half the post-campaign survey participants said that they took action - by changing their driver behaviour and speaking to family and friends about how to safely pass a road train or OSOM vehicle - as a result of the campaign. Round two of the campaign is on our television screens and radio stations now, with billboards also in place on some key driving routes out of Perth.  To download the campaign materials or find out more, go to our website.      HMMS Donations top $248K for charity An initiative we began in 2012, and developed together with CBH Group, the Harvest Mass Management Scheme (HMMS) seeks to reduce the frequency of overloaded grain trucks during harvest. Under the HMMS, growers can forfeit grain from their overloaded trucks which is then sold and the funds provided to Western Australian charities nominated by growers and CBH employees. During the 2020-21 season, $263,230 was raised from the grain sales which has been donated to 17 charities. The scheme provided charities and community organisations with valuable funding, with more than $1.8 million distributed since the scheme started. Show Time in the Regions We attended the Dowerin Field Days alongside some of our Main Roads colleagues and the Department of Transport Marine Safety.  The event drew large crowds this year, with the Main Roads stand attracting a record number of visitors.  Our Transport Inspectors fielded questions from visiting truck drivers and farmers and assisted them with issues.  The main discussion topic​ was the impact on the road network of the winter rains throughout the regions.  The overwhelming sentiment was people would rather have the rain, bumper crops and damage to the road, than no rain and no crops.  Our Environment branch took the opportunity to raise awareness of the Wheatbelt Revegetation Bank Program, and promote opportunities for landowners to sell their unused property near the road network for potential inclusion into the Revegetation Bank.  There was also interest in future projects in the Wheatbelt, including the Bindoon Bypass and Eastlink.  We also had representatives at this year’s Kununurra Agriculture Show, Newdegate Machinery Field Days and the Perth Boat Show as part of the Maritime and Roads Information Hub. HVS Updates Released HVS Update 18-2021 Kimberley Region - Great Northern Highway, Ord River - Notice of Permanent Closure of Parking Bay HVS Update 17A-2021  Registrations Closed – Heavy Vehicle Services Industry Workshop & Information Session - Metropolitan Region HVS Update 16-2021     Notice of Removal from the RAV Networks - Ellen Brook Road within the Shire Of Augusta-Margaret River HVS Update 15-2021     Bridge #1228 Ravenswood Bridge on Pinjarra Road HVS Update 14-2021     Clarification on certain conditions within the Oversize Operating Conditions HVS Update 13-2021     Great Eastern Highway – Ongoing Permit Access for A-Double 36.5 Metre Combinations on Greenmount Hill HVS Update 12-2021     Changes to Operating Conditions

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MRWA July 2021 Newsletter

Click here for the July Newsletter 

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MRWA MAY 2021 Newsletter

Industry Newsletter May 2021 Welcome to the second edition of our newsletter for 2021.  Fires, floods and COVID-19 lockdowns saw us through the first few busy months of the year.  We also had a state election, ran our #BiggerThanYou education campaign and marked a year since the global pandemic hit our shores.  No doubt about it, this year is set to be another exciting and eventful one.    In this edition, you will find information on:the new AMMS Operating Conditionsour upcoming HVS Industry workshop / information sessionshow to subscribe to Great Eastern Highway Bypass Interchanges Project updates and HVS communications issued between January – May, as well as some interesting statistics from our operations.  HVS STATISTICSOn an ad-hoc basis we receive requests to provide statistics relating to our business activities.  We’ve put together the table below which provides readers with a comparison to the last quarters figures.ACCREDITED MASS MANAGEMENT SCHEME (AMMS)In March, new AMMS Operating Conditions were developed and streamlined to provide clarity on the requirements and greater flexibility to AMMS operators.Some of the changes to the AMMS permits include:Consistency and more flexibility with approved vehicle combinations throughout all AMMS levelsThere is no longer a requirement to identify the specific vehicle category on the permit. Instead, the transport operator simply pays for the maximum modified mass (mass in excess of statutory limits) they require and they can use any vehicle combination within that modified mass limit identified in the relevant AMMS Operating ConditionsThe different AMMS Level axle group mass limits can be mixed, provided the axle groups loaded to the lesser AMMS Level are at the rear of the vehicle combination.All new / renewed AMMS permits will be issued subject to the new AMMS Operating Conditions. Existing AMMS permits are still valid until they expire. Please visit the Accredited Mass Management Scheme (AMMS) webpage for more information.ROAD TRAIN ASSEMBLY AREAS (RTAA)As we continue to receive complaints that some operators are leaving trucks, trailers and equipment parked in RTAAs for extended periods of time we remind industry of the following:RTAAs are not to be used as depots and excessive stays should be reported to HVS.RTAAs are primarily for the breakdown and assembly of Restricted Access Vehicles (RAVs) that do not have the appropriate access to the network.RTAAs are not to be used as transport yards or for the garaging of equipment.Vehicles should not be left in RTAAs more than 24 hours.With regards to the Forrestfield RTAA, operators are reminded that companies with yards on Abernethy Road or in close proximity to it should not be using the RTAA, and no light vehicles are to be parked within it. Vehicles must not block the path required for access by oversize loads through the RTAA. We are investigating the potential for installing lockable bollards across both ends of the oversize crossover to prevent parking in that zone. We are also developing a Traffic Management Plan for the Forrestfield site, including the enhancement of signage.We are liaising with other agencies to establish a management order over the RTAA to allow a wider range of options to be taken against vehicles parked contrary to the terms of use.  In the meantime operators can advise us of any issues by emailing hvs@mainroads.wa.gov.au or calling 138 486.WAHVA AUDITORS CONFERENCEAt the end of March, we conducted a Western Australian Heavy Vehicle Accreditation (WAHVA) certified Auditor Conference.  Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a number of auditors could not attend however; we will make the documents and information sessions available on line.  The conference discussed proposed changes to the Accreditation Modules, Audit and Auditor training and certification.  We are proposing to streamline the modules and audit process by removing all the repetitive elements and placing them into one Common Standards Module.  We are reviewing the training and certification process for WAHVA Auditors.  We are also proposing to take responsibility for the training and certification of Auditors. Feedback from attendees was that a benefit of holding the conference was it allowed for ‘good discussions and healthy collaboration’ and they appreciated the ‘ability to listen to all questions and have answers in real time’.   The auditors who attended the conference provided valuable feedback, suggestions to enhance and general support for, the proposed changes.HVS INDUSTRY WORKSHOP SESSIONSThank you to those of you that have attended our workshop sessions.  So far, we’ve held sessions in Narrogin, Bunbury, Geraldton, Northam and the Metropolitan Region.  Session Facilitator, Joey Armenti, says ‘It has been good to see the interest growing from people within the industry coming to these sessions.  They are proving to be a very valuable way for people in the industry to have an open, respectful and constructive conversation with Main Roads HVS to try to improve things for everyone’.The objective of these workshops is to provide us with an opportunity to develop closer relationships with you to ensure the release of new products or policy changes better reflect your needs. It also allows us to share updates on industry related information or upcoming projects.The sessions take the form of an interactive workshop in which issues are discussed between small groups. The focus of discussion is ‘what can we do together to make this work better?’  Topics include WA Heavy Vehicle Accreditation, Compliance, Permits, Access, and Department of Transport matters.  Participants are encouraged to raise concerns, issues and potential solutions.Over the next six months, we’ll be holding further  industry sessions in Albany, Kalgoorlie, Kununurra, Port Hedland and Broome. Places are limited. if you want to attend, please email hvs@mainroads.wa.gov.au or call the Heavy Vehicle Helpdesk on 138 486.GREAT EASTERN HIGHWAY BYPASS INTERCHANGES PROJECTThe Great Eastern Highway Bypass Interchanges (GEHBI) Project will make the movement of freight around Hazelmere, High Wycombe, Midland and Bellevue safer and more efficient.The project includes new interchanges on Great Eastern Highway Bypass at Roe Highway and Abernethy Road, improvements to Abernethy Road south of the Bypass and the extension of Lloyd Street over Helena River into Midland. Construction is on track to begin around the end of the year and run through to 2024.  To keep up to date on the status of this project, please register here for updates. IN CASE YOU MISSED ITBigger Than You CampaignAccredited Mass Management Scheme (AMMS)   HVS Updates ReleasedHVS Update 5-2021Use of Road Train Assembly AreasHVS Update 3-2021Removal of Rockingham Road, Phoenix Road and Forrest Road from Restricted Access Vehicle Networks in the City of Cockburn.HVS Update 1-2021Change to Oversize Road Train and B Double Period Permit Operating Conditions – 4.9 metre permitted load height carrying oversize huts.If you wish to receive these directly to your mailbox simply sign up or update your subscription options, using the following 'Subscriptions' Instructions.

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