Friday, September 23, 2016
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Feedback sought on moving machinery wider than 4m
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Primary Producers SA has today released a survey for producers to provide more information on how they would move machinery wider than 4 metres if it were part of the new night movement permits system.
Last month, the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure announced a new permits system – in consultation with PPSA and Primary Industries and Regions SA – for moving machinery less than 4m wide and 25m long at night in country SA. Previously, only grape harvesters and canola windrowers had been allowed to be moved at night because of the cooler harvesting conditions required.
Chairman Rob Kerin says PPSA has been working with DPTI and in conjunction with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator since permits applications opened on September 1, to see how increased widths beyond 4m might be accommodated.
“The overwhelming feedback, from the grains industry through Grain Producers SA in particular, has been that there would be further efficiencies gained for their businesses if we could move machinery wider than 4m at night,” he said.
“Both DPTI and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator would need to approve such a change and so PPSA has been able to negotiate that we can gather information on how, where and when producers would move machinery at night to help inform that decision.
“Producers should remember that four weeks ago, there was no capacity at all to move machinery at night so every step we make here is a step in the right direction. We understand the need to be able to move all machinery to maximise growers’ productivity but we have to work with DPTI and NHVR and their need to ensure a safe road environment to all users.”
Grain Producers SA Chairman Wade Dabinett is encouraging all grain producers to get on board with the survey and provide as much information as possible that will help demonstrate the importance of this issue to the industry.
“This is an issue that GPSA and our Transport and Supply Chain Sub-Committee has been working with PPSA on for many months,” he said. “We need to gather as much information as we possibly can from this survey to ensure PPSA has the information it needs to go in to advocate on our behalf for the changes that will make our industry more productive and more profitable.”
Producers can log in to www.ruralconnect.com.au to complete the survey. For more information on the current night movement permits, download the PPSA Night Movement Fact Sheet at www.ppsa.org.au
Survey will be on the Rural Connect website until Friday, 14th of October 2016.
ENDS
Media interviews: Rob Kerin, PPSA Chair – 0439 933 103. Wade Dabinett, GPSA Chairman – 0408 686 092.
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