Heavy Vehicle Rest Stopping Improvements

As a priority of the NSW Government, Transport is working to improve the quantity and quality of heavy vehicle rest stops in NSW in collaboration with the road freight industry.

Aerial view of trucks parked at Partridge VC Heavy Vehicle Rest Area, Menangle

Latest news

April 2024 – Rest area upgrades complete on Silver City Highway

Transport completed an $850,000 upgrade to the Seven Trees and Curlwaa rest areas on the Silver City Highway to better support safety, wellbeing and fatigue management of heavy vehicle drivers. The upgrades include two new flushing toilets at each rest area, new shaded picnic shelters and solar-powered lighting for the toilet block and surrounds to improve safety for all users.

The objectives of work under way are to:

assist heavy vehicle drivers using the state road network to comply with national fatigue-management regulations to ensure the safety of themselves and all road users
reduce the incidence and severity of crashes involving heavy vehicles and/or fatigue on NSW roads
enable the introduction of safer, more efficient higher productivity road freight vehicles to a wider section of the state road network
improve freight industry customer satisfaction with the availability and quality of rest areas in NSW
improve heavy vehicle driver wellbeing through provision of quality amenities to support them carry out their role
contribute to regional economic prosperity through improved regional freight access.

The importance of rest areas for fatigue management

Heavy vehicle drivers often undertake long hours of travel. The truck, the road and accessible rest areas are their workplace. Fatigue is one of the top three behavioural factors for heavy trucks involved in serious crashes on NSW roads.

From 2013 to 2022*, there were 36 fatigued heavy truck drivers involved in fatal crashes and 223 fatigued heavy truck drivers involved in serious injury crashes.

In addition to complying with regulation relating to driving hours and mandatory rest breaks, truck drivers need rest stops to manage fatigue and personal welfare. Truck drivers use these facilities to rest and access essential services such as toilets, showers and food.

There are over 1,372** heavy vehicle rest stop locations across NSW which are either classified as formal or informal and are managed by different road managers. These sites are often the only opportunity for truck drivers to stop and rest due to access restrictions on heavy vehicles entering the NSW road network.
^{* Crash data from Transport for NSW Safe System Analytics (SSA) reporting system.

** Figures based on Transport for NSW regional NSW and Greater Sydney heavy vehicle rest stop audits against the Austroads guidelines.}

Freight industry engagement

Transport is working in consultation with the freight industry and heavy vehicle drivers to improve heavy vehicle rest areas in NSW.

Formal engagement with the road freight industry between November 2022 and March 2023 highlighted a range of challenges and needs on the current state of the provision of rest stops for heavy vehicle drivers in NSW including:

capacity issues at existing rest stops
lack of access to or provisions of basic amenities and maintenance quality
design of rest stops need to be fit for purpose to meet industry needs
more heavy vehicle rest stops are required
changing industry practices including the uptake of higher productivity vehicles, decoupling and shuttling.

The Heavy Vehicle Rest Stop Stakeholder Engagement Report provides an overview of consultation and the resulting feedback.

More information about this engagement is available on the Have Your Say portal.

Western Sydney Heavy Vehicle Rest Area

To inform the development of a new heavy vehicle rest area in Western Sydney, Transport for NSW asked the road freight industry about rest area needs in Greater Sydney, location preferences, pay-to-use models, and considerations for various freight and vehicle types in managing rest breaks and planning journeys. Engagement was completed between September and October 2023.

The Western Sydney Heavy Vehicle Rest Area Engagement Report documents insights gathered through the engagement into key preferences and needs of industry in accessing a rest area to manage fatigue in Western Sydney.

Transport for NSW will use the insights to inform the location and scope of the proposed Western Sydney rest area.

As with all Transport for NSW proposals and potential developments, the Western Sydney heavy vehicle rest area is subject to a rigorous business case assessment process and allocation of funding at each stage.
View the Western Sydney Heavy Vehicle Rest Area Engagement Report (PDF, 1.49 MB).

More information about this project is available on the Have Your Say portal.

Aerial view of Wattaka Heavy Vehicle Rest Area Hunter Expressway Buchanan

Heavy Vehicle Rest Stop improvement projects

Western Sydney Heavy Vehicle Rest Area proposal

The NSW Government is planning a new heavy vehicle rest area in Western Sydney to support driver wellbeing and fatigue management.

Transport engaged with the road freight industry to inform the early scoping of a proposed new heavy vehicle rest area in Western Sydney between September and October 2023.

The valuable insights and feedback provided by road freight industry during this engagement are outlined in the Western Sydney Heavy Vehicle Rest Area Engagement Report (PDF, 1.49 MB).

With a strong understanding of industry needs and preferences across the six local government areas considered during consultation, Transport for NSW is undertaking investigations into suitable locations for the proposed heavy vehicle rest area across the following six local government areas: Blacktown City, Penrith City, Fairfield City, Liverpool City, Camden and Campbelltown City.

Transport for NSW will engage with stakeholders as the proposal progresses.

For more information on this engagement, please visit the Western Sydney Heavy Vehicle Rest Area webpage.

Mundoonan Rest Area expansion, Jerrawa

The Australian and NSW governments are jointly funding a $5.2 million upgrade to the existing Mundanoon northbound rest area on the Hume Highway. The upgrade includes the reconfiguration of the parking area to accommodate higher productivity vehicles, new footpaths, drainage upgrades and relocation of an amenity shed. Once complete, the rest area will accommodate up to 10 A-Double vehicles. Expected completion 2025.

Barton Highway rest area replacement, Murrumbateman

Transport is progressively upgrading the Barton Highway to a dual carriageway between the ACT border and Murrumbateman.

Existing northbound heavy vehicle parking area at the ACT border and Wattle Flat have been removed to enable work to progress. Stage 2 proposes to replace both northbound sites with a single formal heavy vehicle rest area. Stage 2 is in development with construction expected to start in 2025.

For more information, please visit the Barton Highway Corridor Upgrade – Stage 2 project page.

Newell Highway: Heavy Duty Pavement Upgrade – Narrabri to Moree

As part of Stage 1 works a formal stopping facility is planned approximately 12 kilometres north of Narrabri and will have northbound and southbound access, parking for up to 20 heavy vehicles, separate parking for 10 light vehicles and multiple caravans. It will also include toilets, lighting, picnic shelters, landscaping and rubbish bins.

For more information, please visit the Newell Highway: Heavy Duty Pavement Upgrade – Narrabri to Moree project page.

HVRS Improvement Program for Regional NSW

Transport is developing a Heavy Vehicle Rest Stop Improvement Program Strategic Business Case to improve the heavy vehicle rest stopping across the regional State Road Network.

The program is informed by an audit of existing formal heavy vehicle rest stops against the Austroads Guidelines for the Provision of Heavy Vehicle Rest Area Facilities. The results of the audit identified:

486 potential new rest stops
356 potential upgrades to existing rest stops.

The Strategic Business Case will support funding requests to develop a program of priority heavy vehicle rest area locations in regional NSW incorporating industry feedback received during the engagement period.

The program is included on the Infrastructure Priority List

Greater Sydney Rest Stop Gap Analysis

Transport is completing a review of heavy vehicle rest stops in Greater Sydney to identify gaps and parking capacity shortfalls along the State Road Network.

This audit will guide future planning, investment and prioritisation for improvements within the Greater Sydney area.

Be Freight Fit

The Be Freight Fit pilot aims to provide heavy vehicle drivers with an opportunity to manage their rest and break times in a way that promotes improved health and wellbeing. By introducing outdoor fitness equipment at heavy vehicle rest stops, Transport aims to support the road freight industry deliver positive outcomes for its workforce. Clybucca north and south bound rest stops on the Pacific Highway (north of Kempsey) have been selected as the pilot sites.

For more information, please visit the visit the Be Freight Fit webpage.

Highway Service Centre partnerships

Transport has entered commercial partnerships with industry to develop highway service centres on land owned by Transport.

As part of the contractual agreement, the proponent must fulfil service requirements including a minimum number of heavy vehicle parking bays and shower and toilet amenities at the highway service centre.

New and upgrades to highway service centres recently completed:

Pacific Highway at Nambucca Heads
Pacific Highway at Ballina
Pheasants Nest Highway Service Centre, Hume Highway upgrade - completed in December 2023 the upgrade featured separate parking for light and heavy vehicles including OSOM parking, separate caravan and bus parking areas, a VC Memorial dedication area and updates to retail options.

Development and delivery of significant upgrades are currently underway at the following Highway Service Centre(s):

Eastern Creek M4 Motorway - the upgrade will deliver separate parking for light and heavy vehicles including separate caravan and bus parking areas, and updates to retail options.

Transport has completed improvements to heavy vehicle rest areas at:

Willy Wally, Golden Highway
Cassillis Park, Golden Highway
Kennedys Gap, Pacific Highway
Chapmans northbound, Pacific Highway
Coolongolook Ampol northbound and southbound, Pacific Highway
Westwood rest area – shelter, concreting, drainage and access improvements.
Seven Trees, Silver City Highway – new flushing toilets, solar-powered lighting and upgraded shaded picnic areas.
Curlwaa, Silver City Highway - new flushing toilets, solar-powered lighting and upgraded shaded picnic areas.