Australia announces $9 million for heavy vehicle rest areas

The Australian Government has announced more than $9 million in funding for eight new heavy vehicle rest area projects across four states as part of the Heavy Vehicle Rest Area (HVRA) initiative. The funding aims to improve long-term safety for truck drivers and support growing freight demands.

In New South Wales, investments include two new rest areas on Ivanhoe Road in the Balranald Shire, a new site on the Dowling Track at Yantabulla in the Bourke Shire, and the relocation of a truck stop on Albury Road in the Lockhart Shire.

Queensland will see upgrades to the Burra Range rest area on the Flinders Highway, along with improvements to multiple rest stops on the Gore Highway and the Leichhardt Highway.

South Australia will receive two new rest areas on the Stuart Highway at Gosse Range and Five Mile. Western Australia will utilize funding for eight new informal rest areas across four major corridors in the Meekatharra Shire, including locations on the Ashburton Downs-Meekatharra Road, Wiluna Road North, Landor-Meekatharra Road, and Sandstone Road.