The Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) has identified Australia’s lack of crucial heavy vehicle washing infrastructure as a biosecurity threat.
ALRTA Executive Director, Anthony Boyle, said the lack of cleaning infrastructure in various regional areas is threatening the safety and security of operators carrying livestock and other bulk commodities.
“Operators moving between sensitive loads like grain, fertiliser and feed must clean vehicles between loads to meet biosecurity, contamination or export standards,” he said.
“Yet across regional Australia, there are few, if any, compliant public facilities available to meet this demand.”
Boyle referred to South East Queensland and Warialda, New South Wales, as particular targets of this issue due to the fact that there have been frequent occurrences of effluent spilling on public roads and truck wash curfews that disrupt operations.
“Effluent spills on public roads is becoming a daily hazard,” Boyle said.
“Drivers are also facing curfews at truck wash facilities that force overnight delays, compounding fatigue risks and stalling productivity.”
Additionally, he said the ongoing consolidation of Australia’s saleyard network is contributing to the impact.
“As the industry centralises through larger, fewer yards, the number of accessible truck wash facilities is also declining,” Boyle said.
“This is quietly undermining our national biosecurity posture, especially in areas with high freight intensity and animal movement.”
The ALRTA believes industry’s current infrastructure will be insufficient in defending against diseases.
It is further emphasising the need for more truck washing facilities as a result.
“What is even more concerning is how ill-equipped we are to respond to a national livestock standstill event – such as an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease or Lumpy Skin Disease,” Boyle said.
“These are no longer abstract threats.
“Industry and government alike frequently describe such an outbreak as ‘not if, but when’.”
In the event of a standstill or regional containment order, it’s likely that the requirement to wash down and disinfect vehicles between every load would become immediate and absolute.
In these instances, Boyle believes Australia’s current washing infrastructure would be overwhelmed within hours.
“Without urgent investment, we are simply not prepared,” he said.
“This vulnerability affects every part of the supply chain – from producers and processors to bulk and livestock carriers.
“If we expect professional standards from transport operators, then we must provide the essential infrastructure to match those expectations, especially when national biosecurity hangs in the balance.”
In light of these criticisms, some jurisdictions are beginning to act.
In Victoria, the Livestock and Rural Transporters Association of Victoria (LRTAV) has developed a plan for a multi-purpose rest area in Geelong.
The concept combines a truck wash facility with amenities for driver rest and queue management near the Port of Geelong – following the recent Western Sydney rest stop model but going further by addressing hygiene infrastructure needs.
Victoria is also trialling new governance. A truck wash steering committee, chaired by Agriculture Victoria’s Biosecurity Division, is exploring strategic responses.
In South East Queensland, major processors are engaging with ALRTA to develop a regional
master plan.
In South Australia, planning is underway to expand the effluent dump point network across key freight corridors.
“What’s becoming clear is that no single solution – or single player – can fix this,” Boyle said.
“ALRTA’s General Manager of Policy and Strategy, Ashley Mackinnon, highlighted the scale of work already underway to bring processors, saleyards and industry leaders into one conversation.
“The message is simple: teamwork is non-negotiable. A whole-of-chain mindset is critical to building infrastructure that can cope with normal operating demands – and crisis situations alike.
“ALRTA is using this mindset to develop a national supply chain solution – one that serves the needs of both livestock and bulk carriers, prioritises safety, hygiene, and traceability, and delivers real resilience in the face of future threats.”
In other news, MLG Oz has expanded its operations in the Pilbara region.
