To B-Double or not to B-Double. That is the Question?

Abstract

Road infrastructure is a critical link to provide and grow sustainability for a rural inland Council. So how does a Council go about ensuring an aged road network will meet the current and future needs? It does so by inspired leadership and engaging with the community and other government instrumentalities. Using this feedback, Council can build the strategic program of works required to address the priorities.Businesses need every advantage in being profitable and freightcost is a large component. To shift 1000t would take a semi 42 trips whereas a standard B Double would do it 28 trips.Southern Downs Regional Council (SDRC) knows that sustainability is about growth both in new business, enhancing current businesses, and attracting a population to support this.An aged rail network exists and while Council has made efforts toconnect to the proposed inland rail network, it is more likely than in the short to medium term the transport of goods will be by road. The advent of the Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport has already and will continue to make further inroads to local and Asian markets by the use of air freight.Our Mayor Tracey Dobie decided the time was ripe to engage with companies and freighters to flesh out where SDC needed to strategically focus within its road network. In this workshop she said “As a Council we are conscious that our horticultural, agricultural and livestock industries are growing and that greater and more frequent access will be required.”This paper provides a synopsis of the presentations and discusses the outcomes of a Heavy Vehicle Workshop that was conducted in Warwick on the 15 February 20