Cranes can roll

CRANE operators will no longer need permits to travel on some Greater Dandenong Roads.
Roads Minister Terry Mulder last week announced easier access to 240 local roads in Greater Dandenong, Cardinia, Hume and Hobsons Bay.
“This figure is expected to grow rapidly in coming weeks as more councils come on board,” he said.
“The new network will reduce the regulatory burden for the industry, with crane operators able to get out on the road when needed, without waiting for a permit to be issued.
“However, permits will still be required for travel on other parts of the road network and compliance monitoring will continue.”
VicRoads each month issues about 600 crane permits on behalf of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.
The Victorian Crane Association’s Brent Stacey said this move would “make the day to day job so much easier for many of our operators to get to and from work sites”.
VicRoads has developed an online map that can be quickly updated as additional roads are approved for inclusion in the gazetted network.
This new network adds to the existing number of approved routes that B-doubles, higher mass limit vehicles, road train vehicles, controlled access buses and semi-trailers (transporting containers up to 48 tonnes) can use.
Visit www.vicroads.vic.gov.au to view the maps.