Farmers struggling with the big dry have won a major concession in northern New South Wales with the NSW Government set to approve B-triple truck movements on the Oxley Highway between Gunnedah and Tamworth.
Nationals Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson has driven the move to allow the bigger trucks on the Oxley to help in hay and livestock runs as farmers fight one of the toughest dry times for years.
The north-west area needs rain urgently before colder weather sets in, but there is little on the horizon, with winter sowing options running out.
Mr Anderson and NSW Roads Minister Melinda Pavey has helped clinch the concession in talks with Roads and Maritime Services so that B-triple trucks can use the Oxley Highway for deliveries. At the moment, quite often trucks have to leave one trailer behind and return for the other trailer after moving between the two regional centres.
The concession will also allow B-Triples to pass through Bloomfield St in Gunnedah.
Gunnedah mayor Jamie Chafey said it was an important concession and did not believe there would be a massive number of truck movements using the concession that would affect local road users.
“It’s all about alleviating the restrictions for farms getting hay and feed to the farms that are desperately needed,” he said.
“As a farmer I know things are very tough at the moment. It’s not a good situation at all. It looks like being a very long winter.”
The details of the concession were still being worked out this morning.
John Ellicott
journalist and author
journalist and author
