Councils spend large amounts of time and resources dealing with the results of stress caused by heavy vehicles using local roads. One way to reduce this problem is to check that vehicles do not exceed load limits.
In South East NSW this task is undertaken by the South East Weight of Loads Group, comprising 14 Local Government authorities and the Road Traffic Authority (RTA).
Queanbeyan Council has taken on the secretariat responsibility for the Group and dealing with any breaches of the law for all 14 Councils in the Group.
In 1991, the City started a patrol program in which four inspectors work in two teams patrolling all roads in the region. Each team is equipped with six portable scales. As a result of their detection and enforcement, a steady decline in the number of breaches has occurred.
Annual contributions from member Councils of around $10,000 each enables this service to run at cost. However, reduced costs in road maintenance and improved safety, for both transport drivers and other road users, are major benefits of this important program.
