A comprehensive survey conducted by NSW Farmers has revealed the deep frustration of farmers at the red tape that constricts their ability to move farm machinery at critical times on NSW roads.
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The survey of 431 farmers will form the basis of a submission to the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator to seek swift reform on the issue of agricultural machinery movements.
The groundbreaking survey was conducted with the help of the Roads and Maritime Services, which admits there was a data drought on farm machinery movements.
The survey’s main findings were:
- Almost 9 in 10 farmers are moving equipment more than 2.5 metres wide, and 7 in 10 are moving equipment which is longer than 12.5 metres;
- Tractors are the most common equipment moved on roads, followed by headers, augers and airseeders;
- Half of surveyed farmers move their farm equipment on state roads five times or less per year, with almost 7 in 10 using local roads more than 6 times per year – most local road uses are short distances and can be as simple as crossing a road;
- More than 80 per cent of vehicle movements are less than 50km, with 60 per cent being less than 25km;
- While machinery movements to harvest and sow winter crops is the most common reason for moving machinery, many farmers noted there is no particular time of year when movements increase and note they move machinery all year;
- Almost 9 in 10 farmers prefer to move machinery on local roads, largely because there is less traffic. However, the key restrictions on using local roads include narrow bridges, low clearance for overhead wires, trees growing over roads and a lack of clearance off-road to make way for other vehicles;
- Three-quarters of surveyed farmers said they know about Permits and Notices, but extended feedback suggests most find the rules too difficult to understand and websites too difficult to navigate;
- 2 in 5 farmers believe there are impediments to the use of taller, wider or longer machinery, principally the issues identified above;
- Three quarters of the most recent farm equipment purchased was either taller, wider or longer, with as many respondants saying they are likely to buy a new machine in the next five years. Of these, 3 in 5 said the next equipment purchase is likely to result in a machine which is also taller, wider and/or longer than the machine it replaces; and
- More than 90 per cent of those survey agree that ‘present regulations should take account of the future trends in machinery manufacturing;’
NSW Farmers policy director for cropping and horticulture, Robert Hardie, said the survey showed the frustration farmers continued to have with keeping their farm businesses going under current road restrictions, having to tight windows to move machinery on roads, dealing with multiple permits and with councils under-resourced to give adequate mapping of local roads. Farmers also faced the ignorance of road users unfamiliar with the need to move machinery. An education program on this was around the corner, he said with help from the NFF and AgForce. Farmers could pay up to $8000 for a smashed tractor windscreen if a car sped past them on a dirt road.
In its submission to the NHVR, NSW Farmers says the survey supports its call for the first National Agricultural Notice to take account of the trend for agricultural machinery to be bigger (taller, wider and longer) in the future.
“We call on all jurisdictions, including local government road managers, to take a more adventurous and proportionately risk-based approach to the further development of a National Class 1 Agricultural Vehicle and Combination Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice.”
Submissions to the NHVR close this week. In a response for The Land, the NHVR said it had recently worked with NSW to relax some road rules.
“Most recently a new permit-based scheme for the operation of oversize hay baler combinations at night came into effect in October. This scheme allows oversize hay baler combinations to operate up to 3.1m wide and/or 22m long during night hours (sunset to sunrise). Other permit schemes include allowing vehicles to carry extra cotton modules when travelling on an approved route via a permit, as well as an exemption from height requirements for road trains (from 4.3m to 4.6m) to transport cotton bales from farm to cotton gin.”
There have also been several notices assisting the NSW agricultural and livestock industries to improve access. These notices range from wider and less restrictive access to agricultural equipment, mass and dimension increases.
- New South Wales Class 1 Agricultural Vehicles (Notice) 2015 (No. 1) Amendment Notice 2017 (No. 1)
- New South Wales Class 3 Baled Commodities Dimension Exemption Notice 2017 (No.1)
- Multi-State Class 3 Heavy Vehicle (Cotton Transportation) Dimension Exemption Notice 2017 (No 1)
- National Livestock Welfare Work and Rest Exemption Notice 2017 (No. 1)
- New South Wales Class 3 Grain Harvest Management Scheme Mass Exemption Notice 2016 (No.1)
- New South Wales Class 1 Agricultural Cotton Vehicle Exemption for Permitted Heavy Vehicles (Notice) 2016 (No. 1)
- National Primary Production Work Diary Exemption (Notice) 2015 (No. 2)
- New South Wales Class 1 Heavy Vehicle Grain Auger Combination Exemption Notice 2015 (No. 1)
- New South Wales Class 1 Heavy Vehicle Combine Harvester Combination Exemption Notice 2015 (No. 1)
- New South Wales Class 1 Agricultural Vehicles (Notice) 2015 (No. 1)
- New South Wales Class 3 Grain Harvest Management Scheme Mass Exemption (Notice) 2014 (No. 1)
- New South Wales Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Livestock Tri-axle Group Mass Limit Exemption (Notice) 2014 (No. 1)
- New South Wales Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Cotton Module Chain Bed Semitrailer Combination Dimension Exemption (Notice) 2014 (No. 1)
- National Class 2 Heavy Vehicle 4.6m High Livestock Carrier Authorisation (Notice) 2014 (No. 1)
- New South Wales and Victoria class 3 heavy vehicle long livestock semitrailer deck length exemption (Notice) 2014 (No. 1)
- New South Wales Livestock Carrier Driver Work Time Exemption (Notice) 2014 (No.
- Class 1 Agricultural Vehicles Notice 2014
“The NHVR’s National Harmonisation Program is aimed at improving heavy vehicle regulation consistency across state and territory borders and four priority issues papers have been released for industry feedback.
“Feedback on the National Class 1 Agricultural Vehicle and Combination Notice is due to close on Friday 17 November. This national notice will replace transitional arrangements for agricultural operations in several states and will harmonise the dimension limits and standard operating conditions for agricultural vehicles and combinations. Once the feedback period is closed, we will be reviewing the comments to determine next steps.”
John Ellicott
journalist and author
journalist and author
