First heavy vehicle rest stop to become a reality for Western Sydney

The Australian and New South Wales Governments have identified a six-hectare piece of land near a key junction of the motorway network in Western Sydney for the city’s first dedicated heavy vehicle rest area. 

The two governments will each contribute $40 million as a first step in the transformation of the greenfield site at Eastern Creek into a purpose-built rest stop where truckies can take a break from the road and take a shower. 

“We know that Western Sydney is the beating heart of Australia’s economy. 

“The Eastern Creek industrial complex is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. 

“That requires measures to ensure that local truckies stay safe when delivering for our community. 

“This is what the community wanted, and we’re delivering,” Federal Member for McMahon Chris Bowen said. 

The site is located about five minutes from the M7 and ten minutes from the M4. This location will particularly benefit drivers hauling freight through Sydney between Victoria and Queensland. 

The identified Eastern Creek site will deliver a much-needed rest area for truck drivers between Pheasants Nest to the south of Sydney and Wyong to the north – a distance of 180 kilometres, taking about two hours to drive. 

Development of the first dedicated truck stop in Western Sydney was an election commitment by the NSW Labor Government. 

“Sydney has a reputation for being Australia’s least friendly city for truck drivers. We are changing that. 

“Truckies are the backbone of our economy and they deserve a place in Sydney to rest and recharge. It was our promise to deliver a dedicated truck rest area in Western Sydney and identifying this six-hectare site is the critical step. 

“This land is close by the heart of the motorway network where the M7 and the M4 meet at Eastern Creek making it the ideal site. 

“At the moment there is a 180-kilometre gap from the southern outskirts of Sydney to the Central Coast in which truck drivers must make do with service stations and local roads to get a break. This is not fair. 

“By ensuring our truck drivers are well-rested we are also ensuring the safest possible motorway network for all drivers,” NSW Minister for Transport and Roads John Graham said. 

A survey of 800 truckies – including overwhelmingly long-haul drivers of B-doubles and semi-trailers – have found safety and security was the highest priority for a rest area and the provision of separate toilet and shower facilities for female drivers. 

As a result of driver feedback and industry consultation, the proposed rest area will provide flushing toilets, clean drinking water, hot showers, ample available parking including bays for sleeping, and shaded areas for time outside the truck cabin. 

“The safety of our truckies is a priority of our government and improving the number and quality of heavy vehicle rest areas is critical for that. 

“We’ve listened to our truck drivers, and will deliver what they’ve asked for – shelter, toilets, hot showers, drinking water, shade and bays to sleep. 

“These are things that we often take for granted at our own workplace but are not easily accessible for our truckies while they are working on the road. 

“Availability of adequate rest areas helps truckies to better manage fatigue and avoid incidents on the road, ultimately saving lives,” Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said. 

The new rest stop will be able to cater for a range of heavy vehicles, including oversize overmass, and it will provide truckies a safe and accessible area to rest and manage fatigue as part of their journey. 

The new Western Sydney heavy vehicle rest stop at Eastern Creek is going to be delivered as part of the New South Wales Government and Transport for NSW’s work to improve the quantity and quality of heavy vehicle rest stops in the State, in collaboration with the road freight industry. 

“The Australian Government’s Heavy Vehicle Rest Area initiative aims to increase heavy vehicle user safety and productivity through vital new and upgraded rest areas across their journey. 

“We want to keep our truck drivers and communities safe and these new and upgraded rest stops will help drivers reduce their fatigue as they keep goods moving across the country,” Steering Committee Chair Senator Glenn Sterle said. 

Source: NSW Government – Media Releases; Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government; Transport for NSW