Mr MITCHELL - 1999-08-19
As a road train operator and owner for quite a few years before coming into this House, I used the weighbridge at Winnellie on many occasions. I understand a new weighbridge has been or is being built out towards East Arm. What are the details of this project, and what will it will mean to road train operators in the Territory?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, at lunchtime today I intend opening the new weighbridge on Berrimah Road, near the Trade Development Zone. This weighbridge will have a number of benefits. I understand it is the largest weighbridge in the Southern Hemisphere, capable of weighing single loads of 250 tonnes - a whole road train in one hit - and printing out not only the gross weight of that road train but also the load on each axle pair. Its location on Berrimah Road will provide ease of access to the new port and will greatly enhance the functionality of the port.
However, I believe the greatest benefit of this new weighbridge will be the closing down of the current weighbridge on the Stuart Highway, which in the past has been the cause of some severe traffic disruption, especially when cattle boats were loading. Trucks were weighed out full and weighed back empty, and they had to turn across the traffic on the Stuart Highway at all hours of the day and night, not only disrupting traffic but also imposing some risk of danger to motorists.
As I said, this weighbridge is very large and very modern. It came at a cost of $1.55m. It is an essential part of our infrastructure development. We will continue as a government to provide that essential infrastructure to the people and businesses of the Northern Territory.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, at lunchtime today I intend opening the new weighbridge on Berrimah Road, near the Trade Development Zone. This weighbridge will have a number of benefits. I understand it is the largest weighbridge in the Southern Hemisphere, capable of weighing single loads of 250 tonnes - a whole road train in one hit - and printing out not only the gross weight of that road train but also the load on each axle pair. Its location on Berrimah Road will provide ease of access to the new port and will greatly enhance the functionality of the port.
However, I believe the greatest benefit of this new weighbridge will be the closing down of the current weighbridge on the Stuart Highway, which in the past has been the cause of some severe traffic disruption, especially when cattle boats were loading. Trucks were weighed out full and weighed back empty, and they had to turn across the traffic on the Stuart Highway at all hours of the day and night, not only disrupting traffic but also imposing some risk of danger to motorists.
As I said, this weighbridge is very large and very modern. It came at a cost of $1.55m. It is an essential part of our infrastructure development. We will continue as a government to provide that essential infrastructure to the people and businesses of the Northern Territory.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016