Western Sydney to receive first truck rest stop

Truck drivers travelling across Sydney will soon be able to stop at the city’s first dedicated heavy vehicle rest area.

The Australian and NSW governments have identified a six-hectare piece of land located close to a key junction of the motorway network.

The Federal and NSW Governments will each contribute $40 million as a first step towards transforming the greenfield site at Eastern Creek into a purpose-built rest stop where truck drivers can shower and take a break from the road.

Developing the first dedicated truck stop in Western Sydney was an election commitment by NSW Labor, and the 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 and nearly two hours driving.

The site is located five minutes from the M7 and ten minutes from the M4 and will be of particular benefit to drivers hauling freight through Sydney between Victoria and Queensland.

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

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

The new rest stop will provide space for a range of heavy vehicles, including oversize overmass, and it will give truck drivers a safe and accessible area to rest and mange fatigue as part of their journey.

“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,” said Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King.

“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.”

NSW Minister for Transport and Roads John Graham said Sydney’s reputation for being Australia’s least friendly city for truck drivers was changing.

“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,” he said.

“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.”