Truck drivers will soon be able to stop at a new and upgraded rest area in the Limestone Coast thanks to allocated Federal Government funding.
The funding is the first tranche of the Australian Government’s Heavy Vehicle Rest Areas Program (HVRAP), which aims to increase heavy vehicle user safety and productivity, through the delivery of vital new and upgraded rest areas for truckies.
The HVRAP will fund a new Salt Creek Rest Area on the Princes Highway, providing a space for heavy vehicles to stop and rest on their journey.
The $3.8m project will deliver five parking bays, a unisex toilet block, a metal shade structure and picnic tables.
The Federal Government is providing $3.04m for this project and the South Australian Government will contribute $760,000.
Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Carol Brown said the message was simple, “without our truckies Australia stops.”
“The Albanese Government supports truck drivers and we are committed to keeping them, and other road users, safe through programs like the Heavy Rest Area initiative,” she said.
“These projects are funded through the first tranche of the Heavy Vehicle Rest Area Program (HVRAP), which will provide $140m of funding over 10 years.
“I thank the Chair of the HVRA Steering Committee Glenn Sterle, and the HVRA Steering Committee members for sharing their time and experience to assess the strategic need criterion and look forward to their contribution in assessing the same criterion in the next tranche.”
South Australian Senator Don Farrell welcomed the new Limestone Coast facilities.
“Our truck drivers perform vital work – driving long hours and traversing vast distances to transport goods across the country for all Australians,” he said.
“We know that driving while fatigued is one of the leading factors contributing to road crashes, and the Albanese Government is committed to ensuring truck drivers have access to the facilities they need to stay safe on our roads.
“The new Salt Creek Rest Area will improve road safety in the region, and provide a vital place for heavy vehicle drivers along the Limestone Coast to stop and rest along their journey.”
