Funding available to improve heavy vehicle safety
If you have ideas to improve heavy vehicle safety in Wide Bay, Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien encourages you to apply for funding through the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR).
Mr O’Brien is a staunch advocate for road safety, and said the opening of Round 5 of the NHVR’s Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVSI) was an opportunity not to be missed.
“The roads and highways through Wide Bay are an important and busy freight corridor, so this initiative will make roads in our region much safer,” Mr O’Brien said.
“People who use the roads every day have a great opportunity to identify opportunities for improvement, so if you have a project or program, education or awareness campaign, or materials that increase safety awareness and compliance that requires funding or support to make it happen, we want to hear from you.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the Federal Government had provided $5.48 million for safety projects under this round of funding.
“This funding is focused towards groups and projects delivering real safety benefits for the heavy vehicle industry and all road users,” Mr McCormack said.
“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility, which is why we’re asking groups to harness their collective knowledge to develop implementable, value-for-money projects.”
The HVSI program has provided $17.3 million for 62 grants over the past four years.
Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz said this round’s record funding showed the Australian Government was serious about heavy vehicle safety.
“We’ve seen some great projects across the country benefit from the HVSI funding over the past four years,” Mr Buchholz said.
“I recently saw the benefits of a trial for a livestock unloading system at Kilcoy in Queensland.
“Elsewhere, the HVSI has delivered great projects such as a virtual reality program for learner drivers developed in Bendigo and information for caravan and RV drivers on how to share the road and rest areas with truck drivers.
“The most recent round of funding will support heavy vehicle driver physical and mental wellbeing.”
NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said the HVSI program received 42 applications for funding last year and he looked forward to even more in the next round.
“This continues to be a great opportunity for the NHVR to work with safety-focused groups towards delivering a tangible safety outcome,” he said.
“I’m always encouraged by the diversity of stakeholder groups that put forward their ideas and their willingness to create solutions to make our roads safer.”
Applications for round five funding are open until 21 February 2020.
Projects must commence in the 2020–21 financial year and be completed by 30 June 2023.
For more information or to view the Submission Guidelines, visit www.nhvr.gov.au/hvsi.
ENDS
Media Contact:
For Mr O’Brien: Clementine Norton (07) 4121 2936
