South Australia Class 3 Bus Recovery (O-Bahn Busway) Dimension Exemption Notice Operator's Guide

The South Australia Class 3 Bus Recovery (O-Bahn Busway) Dimension Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1) provides an exemption from a dimension requirement (length) under the Heavy Vehicle (Mass Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL) for a Class 3 combination consisting of a bus towing another bus that has broken down on the North Eastern (O-Bahn) Busway.

Note: The Notice provides an exemption from certain heavy vehicle dimensions limits outlined in the MDL for Class 3 vehicles operating in South Australia.

This instrument does NOT exempt these heavy vehicles from other requirements of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), including, but not limited to, mass and other dimension requirements.

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Specifications
Gazette Notice:	C2024G00683
Starts:	22 November 2024
Expires:	21 November 2029
Vehicle types:	Class 3, rigid bus towing a rigid bus, rigid bus towing an articulated bus, articulated bus towing a rigid bus, articulated bus towing an articulated bus
Exemptions:	Dimension requirements (length)
Law:	HVNL, MDL
Coverage:	SA
To be carried:	No

Overview

The information in this Operator’s Guide is intended to do two things:

Explain how the South Australia Class 3 Bus Recovery (O-Bahn Busway) Dimension Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1) (the Notice) operates, to assist in complying with it. It is important to remember this Operator’s Guide is instructional only and it is the Notice that provides the exemption or authorisation. If there is a difference or misunderstanding between the Operator’s Guide and the Notice, the Notice has priority and must be followed. The only exceptions are the requirements or conditions set out in the ‘Network and Mapping’ section explained below.
Provide additional information referred to in the network requirements of the Notice. This includes links to network maps and other information such as vehicle, travel and road conditions. Networks and their conditions published in the ‘Network and Mapping’ section of this Operator’s Guide are not general advice and must be treated as conditions of the Notice.

Please read the Notice and this Operator's Guide together. To download or print this guide, use the print or PDF buttons on the top right of this page

About the Notice

The Notice provides Class 3 heavy vehicle combinations, that is, buses towing another bus, with an exemption to the dimension requirement (length) under the MDL to enable broken-down buses on the O-Bahn Busway (the Busway) to be removed for repair and thereby allow the ongoing operation of buses on the Busway.

Exemptions

These exemptions only apply to the extent to which conditions are granted.

Dimension requirements

The Notice exempts an eligible Class 3 heavy vehicle combination from the following dimension requirements of Schedule 6 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL):

section 3 – Length

Note: Other mass and dimension limits in the MDL apply.

Definitions

The following are terms used in the Notice or conditions of operation. Unless otherwise stated, words and expressions used in the Notice have the same meaning as defined in the HVNL.

Term	Definition
ADR	Australian Design Rules.
Class 3 heavy vehicle	A heavy vehicle is a Class 3 heavy vehicle if: it, together with its load, does not comply with a prescribed mass requirement or prescribed dimension requirement applying to it; and it is not a Class 1 heavy vehicle.
Combination	A group of vehicles consisting of a motor vehicle towing 1 or more other vehicles. Under the Notice, the combination is that of a bus towing another bus that has broken down on the O-Bahn Busway.
HVNL	Heavy Vehicle National Law.
MDL	Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation.
O-Bahn Busway	The Northeast Guided Busway between the Adelaide Central Business District and Modbury, including related infrastructure.
Road-related area	A road-related area is: an area that divides a road; or a footpath, shared path or nature strip adjacent to a road; or a shoulder of a road; or a bicycle path or another area that is not a road and that is open to the public and designated for use by cyclists or animals; or an area that is not a road and that is open to, or used by, the public for driving, riding or parking motor vehicles.
The Notice	South Australia Class 3 Bus Recovery (O-Bahn Busway) Dimension Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1)
VS Regulation	Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation.

Eligible vehicles

To be eligible to operate under the Notice, approved heavy combinations must comply with the conditions of the Notice and all other requirements of the MDL, except where specifically exempted by the Notice.

Eligible heavy combinations are:

rigid bus towing a rigid bus
rigid bus towing an articulated bus
articulated bus towing a rigid bus
articulated bus towing an articulated bus.

Image of class 3 heavy vehicle combination including a bus towing a broken down bus using a rigid tow bar to connect the towing bus to the towed bus — Figure 1: Example of an eligible heavy vehicle combination

Conditions

Notices are subject to various conditions to ensure public safety, protect assets and prevent adverse impacts on the community, such as noise, emissions and traffic congestion. See the sections below for specific conditions related to the Notice.

Dimension conditions - Click to expand

Dimension limits

The maximum length of an eligible vehicle must not exceed 40m.

General conditions - Click to expand

An eligible vehicle operating under the Notice must:

not carry passengers; and
not exceed 40kph; and
use a rigid tow bar to connect the towing bus to the towed bus.

Other conditions and additional information

Complying with the HVNL

Unless otherwise exempted by the Notice or this Operator's Guide, operators must ensure their vehicle or combination complies with the:

Australian Design Rules (ADRs); and,
Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL); and,
Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL); and,
Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation (VS Regulation).

Using or permitting another person to use a defective heavy vehicle or a heavy vehicle with unapproved modifications on a road may be an offence.

Failure to comply may result in the driver and/or operator being liable for an offence. Penalties can include infringement notices or prosecution.

Chain of Responsibility (CoR)

Under the HVNL, every party in the Chain of Responsibility (CoR) has a positive duty to ensure the safety of their activities in relation to a heavy vehicle. This duty, known as the “primary duty”, applies to the scheduling, loading and consigning of a vehicle, as well as to its operation on a road.

Safety is broader than the safety of drivers and other road users. It also includes protection of road infrastructure, preventing damage to other vehicles or property, and minimising environmental harm. Substantial penalties may be imposed upon parties who breach this obligation and upon their executives.

For more information on your CoR obligations visit Chain of Responsibility on the NHVR website.

Our Regulatory Advice offers guidance, tips and tools for managing a range of heavy vehicle safety risks.

The requirement to carry the Notice

Drivers do not need to carry a copy of the Notice.

Network and mapping

For the purposes of s121 of the HVNL, an area or route specified in the 'Network & Mapping' section of this Operator's Guide is a stated area or route to which this Notice applies. In addition to complying with the conditions stated in this Operator's Guide, operators must ensure compliance with the specific road manager access requirements set out below or in network maps.

In this tab, you will find the approved routes authorised under the Notice. There may also be network conditions pursuant to the stated areas and routes under the Notice. Network conditions relate to road and travel conditions that are not contained within the Notice.

National Network Map

Certain authorised heavy vehicle road network maps for the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and Victoria are published by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, through the NHVR National Network Map. Additional information and guidance can be found on the National Network Map webpage.

Approved routes covered by the Notice

The following routes are approved for travel for vehicles eligible under this Notice.

Approved routes covered by the Notice - Click to expand

An eligible combination may access the following roads and road-related areas:

Road-related areas within the interchanges at Klemzig, Paradise and Tea Tree Plaza, Modbury;
For travel to Adelaide City Centre - Park Road and Hackney Road, Hackney at the City (southern) end of the O-Bahn Busway;
Grenfell Street, Adelaide west of the busway tunnel exit; and
For travel to Modbury – northbound on Hackney Road and Park Road, from the busway tunnel exit to the City (southern) end of the O-Bahn Busway.

Specified road manager network requirements

The following section outlines specific road manager route requirements under the Notice, including route conditions and restrictions.

Road manager route requirements in this section may change from time to time and should be reviewed regularly to ensure compliance.

For further information on how to comply with a requirement, please contact the relevant road manager.

Road managers may publish specific route conditions and restrictions on the approved network map. These must be complied with in addition to any route requirements outlined in this Operator's Guide. If a condition listed in any section of this Operator's Guide conflicts with a route condition or restriction published on an approved network map, the more restrictive requirement applies.

South Australia network conditions - Click to expand

Dimension Restrictions map

Operators must comply with any dimensions or restrictions applied to a given area or route described on the Dimension Restrictions map. For further information about the map, please visit the Dimension Restrictions map webpage.

Traffic advisory services - Click to expand

Prior to commencing any journey, operators should review traffic alerts, road closures, travel delays, and other traffic advisory information for participating jurisdictions.

Table 1 provides details and links to official traffic advisory services for each participating jurisdiction. For more information about a particular service, contact the relevant jurisdiction or department via the contact details listed on the service webpage.

**Table 1:** Traffic advisory services
Jurisdiction	Website	Purpose
South Australia	Outback Road Warnings	Access the latest information about temporary closures, restrictions, and warnings for outback roads north and west of Port Augusta.
South Australia	Traffic SA	View live information about incidents and changes in South Australia traffic conditions. Traffic SA is available as a mobile app. See Addinsight download details on the Traffic SA website.

Applying for a permit - Click to expand

Access permit applications are required for heavy vehicles that don’t comply with the conditions set out in a notice and when accessing routes that aren’t covered on an approved network.

The following pages provide useful information and resources for submitting access permit applications:

Do I need a permit?: Information and resources for determining whether a road access permit, or a Notice is required to operate on Australian roads.
Access permit application process: Information, resources, and instructions for submitting a valid access permit application.

Related notices

In this tab, you will find a list of national, state and territory notices related to the South Australia Class 3 Bus Recovery (O-Bahn Busway) Dimension Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1).

A related notice may be comparable with this Notice or provide alternatives for operators to find the appropriate notice under which to operate.

Related national notices

Jurisdiction	Notice
National	National Class 2 Bus Authorisation Notice 2024 (No.1) Authorises the use of Class 2 heavy vehicles that are buses, other than articulated buses, that are longer than 12.5m. Please note the following supporting documents for this Notice: National Controlled Access Bus Operator’s Guide National Class 3 Bus Rear Overhang Dimension Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1) Grants an exemption from rear overhang dimension requirements for Class 3 buses, other than articulated buses, that are longer than 12.5m but are not longer than 14.5m. Please note the following supporting documents for this Notice: National Controlled Access Bus Operator’s Guide

Jurisdiction

Notice

National

National Class 2 Bus Authorisation Notice 2024 (No.1)

Authorises the use of Class 2 heavy vehicles that are buses, other than articulated buses, that are longer than 12.5m.

Please note the following supporting documents for this Notice:

National Controlled Access Bus Operator’s Guide

National Class 3 Bus Rear Overhang Dimension Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1)

Grants an exemption from rear overhang dimension requirements for Class 3 buses, other than articulated buses, that are longer than 12.5m but are not longer than 14.5m.

Please note the following supporting documents for this Notice:

National Controlled Access Bus Operator’s Guide

Related state notices

Jurisdiction	Notice
Australian Capital Territory and Victoria	Australian Capital Territory and Victoria Heavy Vehicle Standards (Bus Bicycle Rack) Exemption Notice 2021 (No.1) Exempts a heavy vehicle to which it applies from certain requirements of the Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation.
New South Wales	New South Wales Class 3 Bus Mass Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1) Exempts specified types of buses from the mass limits and axle mass limits of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation.
Queensland	Queensland Class 3 Heavy Vehicle (Brisbane City Council CCTV) Dimension Exemption Notice 2022 (No 1) Allows the fitting of CCTV cameras to Brisbane City Council buses.
South Australia	South Australian Heavy Vehicle Standards (2 for 3 Bus Seat) Exemption Notice 2023 (No.1) Exempts a heavy vehicle to which it applies from certain requirements of Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation.
Tasmania	Tasmania Class 3 Bus Mass Exemption Notice 2023 (No.1) Exempts eligible Class 3 buses from the mass limits specified in section 2(1)(a) of Schedule 1 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL).
Victoria	Victoria Class 3 2-Axle Bus Mass Exemption Notice 2023 (No.1) Exempts 2-axle buses operating in Victoria manufactured before a certain date from compliance with certain prescribed mass requirements.

Resources

All information about the Notice is contained in this Operator’s Guide. Please refer to the tabs for more information about this Notice, or contact us with your specific questions.

Note: If you have any feedback on the information provided, please contact us at info@nhvr.gov.au

Participating jurisdiction heavy vehicle resources

For more information about operating a heavy vehicle in South Australia, refer to the following site:

Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) - Heavy vehicles

Changes and updates

Date	Summary	Links to resources and communications
22 November 2024	South Australia Class 3 Bus Recovery (O-Bahn Busway) Dimension Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1) commenced. This Notice revokes and replaces the South Australia Class 3 Disabled Bus Dimension Exemption Notice 2020 (No.1).	C2024G00683
1 January 2020	South Australia Class 3 Disabled Bus Dimension Exemption Notice 2020 (No.1) commenced.	C2019G01086