Joint release - 125 council bridges and culverts to receive funded heavy vehicle assessments

One hundred and twenty-five bridges and culverts in 33 different councils will receive funded engineering assessments as part of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s (NHVR) Strategic Local Government Asset Assessment Project (SLGAAP), supported by the Australian Government. 

The bridges and culverts were selected based on whether the locations were on priority freight routes, and would deliver potential improved access for heavy vehicles.

Through the SLGAAP, the NHVR connects engineering consultants with local government road managers to deliver funded bridge and culvert assessments and engineering reports.

The information supports councils to better understand their bridge or culvert’s capability and make informed heavy vehicle access decisions.

The Australian Government has committed $20 million in total, including $4 million in the current financial year, towards this project to assess more bridges and culverts through to late 2024.

A full list of the bridges and culverts can be found below.

For more information on the Strategic Local Government Asset Assessment Project, visit www.nhvr.gov.au/slgaap

Quotes attributable to Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:

“The Australian Government allocated $12 million in funding to expand the number of local council asset assessments across Australia’s road network through to late 2024, bring our total funding to $20 million for this initiative.

“These assessments can deliver increased benefits for heavy vehicle operators and assist local councils in assessing their assets’ capability.”

Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Carol Brown:

“Through the SLGAAP, local council bridges and culverts are prioritised based on their likelihood to deliver improved productivity and efficiency outcomes for a heavy vehicle journey from start to finish.

“No bridge or culvert is considered in isolation. Rather, they are selected based on if an assessment may unlock access for more classes of vehicles such as A-doubles, to travel more extensively on Australia’s freight network.” 

Quote attributable to Federal Member for Lyons Brian Mitchell:

“The information provided through this program means councils can better understand their bridge or culvert’s capability and make informed heavy vehicle access decisions.

“Councils are also able to use this information to apply for funding for the upkeep of their bridges or culverts.”

Quote attributable to Mayor of the Derwent Valley Michelle Dracoulis:

“Derwent Valley Council nominated the Tyenna River crossing to be assessed by the SLGAAP project. 

“The results of the assessment provided council with certainty that our asset was suitable and safe for larger combination vehicles to access. 

“This in turn provided local industry with clarity when planning their project and operational options.”

Quotes attributable to NHVR Chief Executive Officer Sal Petroccitto:

“This latest round of SLGAAP will bring the project’s total number of assessments to 590, across 88 local councils.

“We support local governments to understand their assessment reports, apply conditions for heavy vehicle access and publish and manage their asset data in the NHVR Portal through a road manager toolkit with recorded webinars, training modules and templates.”