Austroads is taking the lead in implementing the National Automated Access System (NAAS) for heavy vehicles in Australia and New Zealand. The system will be based on and informed by the successful Tasmanian Heavy Vehicle Access Management System (HVAMS) acknowledging the differences in infrastructure and processes across jurisdictions.
The NAAS will support road managers, including road authorities, local government and third parties, to provide access decisions more efficiently, driving productivity and safety across state borders.
Australia and New Zealand have complex road networks and depend on restricted access vehicles to move freight and oversized equipment, and for specialised services like mobile cranes. Currently, notices and permits are used to allow access to certain parts of the road network for restricted access vehicles. Permits, however, can be difficult and time consuming to organise.
Introducing a contemporary access decision-making system, like a NAAS for restricted access vehicles, will reduce the current need for permits and will:
- reduce cost to operators, road managers and the community
- improve understanding of where access is available
- connect to state, territory and national networks
- support better compliance
- incentivise operators to invest in safer, more innovative vehicles
- identify parts of the network that are in greater need of maintenance and upgrade.
Frequently Asked Questions
As a single seamless system, a NAAS for heavy vehicles will support state and local government road managers to provide access decisions more efficiently.
The system will help industry through faster responses to access requests for specific vehicle configurations and loads. This will provide more certainty for heavy vehicle operators and improved peace of mind for procurement decisions.
The NAAS will include interfaces with the NHVR Portal and other systems, aimed at providing a seamless experience for industry.
Permits are a time-consuming and inefficient way to approve access to restricted access vehicles. They can take weeks to approve, need to be carried in the vehicle, and are approved on an individual basis. The NAAS will allow operators to enter their vehicle details online and receive a map that shows where they can travel. It is fast and tailored to the individual vehicle, configuration and load, which should mean heavy vehicle operators do not need to apply for so many permits.
Permits and traditional notices will still operate in parallel to the NAAS. The aim is not to eliminate permits, which will be needed for novel journeys, but to substantially reduce their use for more typical journeys.
The project is complex and requires a lot of preliminary work to be suitable for all road managers and regulators across Australia and New Zealand. The Austroads Board approved a staged project implementation to provide prudent, practical project gateways and deliver functional outcomes that support progressive adoption over the coming years.
Commencement of each of stages 2 to 4 is subject to the successful completion of the stage immediately before it and approval by the Austroads Board.
Broadly, the project stages are:
Stage 1 – System Planning
Legal and regulatory understanding and review, policy settings and information capture, and associated qualitative benefits. Development of a communications and engagement plan to support the project.
Stage 2 – Transfer Preparation
Development of acceptance criteria for the NAAS. Undertaking a comprehensive comparative analysis of HVAMS and the requirements for the NAAS. Undertaking ICT project planning.
Stage 3 – Transfer
Delivery of the NAAS for broad Australian and New Zealand use, and the final set of benefits realisation activities.
Stage 4 - Enhancement, Expansion and Integration
Delivery of integration of the NAAS with other systems, including interfaces to the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) and other regulators, and other operational activities. Supporting data collection and management.
Austroads is currently delivering Stage 1 of the project, which entails:
- a legal assessment of how the NAAS will work across the HVNL and any applicable derogations from the HVNL by individual state and territories, as well as applicable laws in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and New Zealand
- drafting a concept of operations document that will capture:
- the current approaches to access across the breadth of road managers
- the approaches to structure (that is, bridge), road and pavement assessment, and, importantly, the consequences for the NAAS as a single seamless system across road managers
- the key requirements road authorities, road managers, heavy vehicle operators and regulators (especially the NHVR) have of the NAAS
- the policy settings needed for the NAAS to make sure it will meet the requirements of all stakeholders
- the architecture and necessary operational environment for the NAAS to support stakeholder needs.
Capturing all the needs and aspirations of stakeholders the NAAS will impact operationally is critical. The Austroads project team, led by Chris Koniditsiotis, is engaging with road authorities and road managers, the NHVR and other regulators, and the heavy vehicle industry. Gathered insights will inform the architecture and necessary operational environment to support stakeholder needs.
For more information, contact Chris Koniditsiotis on 0410 634 094 or at ckoniditsiotis@austroads.com.au
