No exemption for waste truck

Gosford Council's traffic committee has recommended that no exemptions to the eight-tonne load limit be made on Woy Woy Rd for waste services vehicles.

The committee had been asked to consider an exemption for SITA, the council's waste contractor.

At its meeting held on September 6, the council agreed to defer a decision to allow a further meeting with SITA representatives.

It was also resolved that travel times surveys be carried out on both Woy Woy Rd and Brisbane Water Dr.

Travel time surveys were undertaken on Tuesday, October 26, using a 16-tonne fully-loaded tip truck.

The survey results showed times via Woy Woy Rd of around 12 minutes compared to around 17 minutes via Brisbane Water Dr.

A staff report claimed that there was "little additional time", averaging about five and a half minutes, taken for heavy vehicles to travel to and from the recycling centre via the Pacific Highway and Brisbane Water Dr.

Since the introduction of the restriction, no complaints had been received from other transport operators with regard to increased running times as a result of the implementation of the load limit.

Council imposed the restriction on Woy Woy Rd to reduce to potential for further accidents involving heavy vehicles at the intersection of Woy Woy Rd and Horsfield Rd and the bend near the former abattoir site.

Council agenda TR 04.119, December 7