Fitzroy Crossing’s reputation at Rock Bottom

The issue of rocks being aimed at trucks passing through Fitzroy Crossing has been on the increase with the town’s business leaders saying it has put the Kimberley town’s reputation at rock bottom.

Worse still, it is causing scheduling nightmares for freight companies who are trying to keep their drivers safe and urgent action has been called from politicians and the Police to fix this situation which is slowing down the supply of goods and services throughout the region.

This serious issue is ‘nothing new’ for the transport industry who has been dealing with this for longer than most want to remember.

Everyone, from the Police, transport companies, industry associations, individuals and even this magazine has tried to find ways to help alleviate the problem over the years – all obviously to no avail. In fact, from latest reports the problem is getting worse.

The Police have readily made escort through the town available to truck drivers. The Police along with Transport companies have worked together to engage the children introducing them face to face to trucks and their drivers and giving them gifts…

Presently, in a long line of people before who have tried to sort this problem, a CEO of an Australia-wide transport company is said to be working with Police and regional leaders in the Kimberley to look at ways of improving the safety of their drivers.

However, until the real issues are addressed, namely the lack of deterrence through the Juvenile Justice System and the responsibility of parents and communities to properly address the problem at its ‘roots’ the reality is this situation is unlikely to change.

It was recently reported that ‘many’ people within the local community have tried to work with all concerned however, not many of them stick around in the town for longer than six months.

When the transport industry has ‘asked’ for help from Police and Politicians over the years they have been advised to make a ‘report’ with Police on the incident so that a clear picture with numbers and times can be established.

In a previous article in WA Transport Magazine on this subject we were advised that this reporting can be done by telephone to ensure no more valuable time is lost by operators and it is important to get a Report Number.

Divina D’Anna, Member for Kimberley is one MP who has received a letter raising concerns from truck drivers on this matter and when asked by the ABC if she was working with those affected on any strategies to deal with the issue said, "I urge all freight drivers, other road users and all community members to please make sure to always report any of these incidents to Police, no matter the time, place or other circumstances."

However, once the gravity of the situation is uncovered through these ‘statistics’ do we really expect Government to make any suitable changes because of the ‘age’ of the offenders and their origin?

Perhaps the time has come for the Politicians to consider building a road around the town site to allow those who do not need to pass through Fitzroy Crossing safe and expedient travel through the region?

Phillip Hams, Fitzroy Crossing Business Network chairperson said the situation has cast the town in a bad light and has put its reputation in the pits. "It's absolutely unacceptable to have traffic reluctant to travel through Fitzroy Crossing at night time because they'll get rocked or have other missiles shot at them with slingshots," he said.

He, along with other business leaders in the town and many in the freight sector have written to politicians and Police calling for the issue to be immediately addressed citing the root cause was children roaming the streets at night and the need to get among the families involved and have the parents take responsibility for their children. "It just needs someone with the courage to step up and sort it out," he said.

The risk to life is real for drivers passing through Fitzroy Crossing and sadly these attacks could lead to a fatality or serious injury.

We have asked this question before; will it take the loss of a life or serious injury for things to change?

Truck drivers who travel through Fitzroy Crossing regularly are saying that the odds are you will have rocks pelted at you on a weekly, fortnightly basis.

The danger does not only lie for the truck driver but the public in general for if the truck driver is compromised – who is driving the truck? Operators fear losing control if the missile goes through the windscreen and hits them which could lead to property damage and even an innocent passer by being hurt whilst they are going through the town.

What is more concerning is that the missiles described by the transport industry extend past rocks with ball bearings possibly with the use of sling shots being reported.

The media is asked not report on the ‘types’ of missiles for fear that it will give people ‘ideas’, however by not reporting on it does not do the truck drivers or transport companies any favours as they need to be ‘aware’ so they can take whatever precautions necessary to protect not only their own safety but that of the public.

Some operators report that ‘slowing down’ below the speed limit whilst going through the town has fewer incidences versus travelling through at the normal speed and by far the safest way through is with a Police escort if you can get one.

Due to this issue, many transport companies have had to change their schedules so they don’t pass through the town at night time which is the worst time, however operators are reporting that the rock chucking is happening during the day time as well.

With all of the stresses that truck drivers have to deal with in their normal day this problem is causing unneeded anxiety for drivers as well as a logistical nightmare for businesses.

It is fairly obvious after all these years that all the avenues have been tried without success so perhaps again, the answer is for Government to build another road around the town bypassing it completely for those not needing to stop in the town to deliver goods.

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Karen-Maree’ Kaye T: 0430 153 273 Email: karen@angrychicken.com.au

Karen-Maree' Kaye, Russell McKinnon

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Mining Boom, Bumper Harvest… Western Australia is looking like the best place to be in the world however, as our ‘Fair Go’ columnist Ray Pratt [Page 8] points out due to COVID-19 border closures, both international and domestic, the lack of supply of machinery and transport equipment or the parts needed from overseas to fix or manufacture equipment ‘is and will’ make things challenging.

Added to that is the shortage of skilled labour, especially truck drivers but it is pleasing to see that $6.1 million, State Government funded Driver Training Initiative which aims to address driver shortages by training 500 new HR Drivers and upskilling 500 existing drivers to HC and MC licences over the next two years is gaining momentum. If you want to get involved please contact Cam Dumesny from Western Roads Federation. See story on Page 16 of this edition.

We also revisit the rock chucking at Fitzroy Crossing, [Page 2] but this time with a suggestion to government on how they can fix it permanently before someone gets seriously injured and the reality of ‘why’ nothing that is presently being done, or has been done will ever work. I knew I was going to get flack about bringing SBT out into the open, and thank you to the people who have responded to the story in the last edition. One of the comments I got was that these acts are random, and people do it on the spur of the moment and it should not be spoken about for fear of copycats. As you will see in this edition [Page 14] our Bird’s Eye columnist Carol Messenger shares hers and her husband Don’s experience with SBT and it was definitely planned. Sadly, most are and this is ‘why’ we as an industry must talk about it. Welcome to all the new subscribers, as always, thank you to everyone who supports the magazine. Best, Karen

2..............................................Fitzroy Crossing’s reputation at Rock Bottom 6..............................................Highway upgrades kick off 10...........................................$330 million of road projects underway across the Kimberley 11..............................................Introduction of the Class 1 RAV Restricted Area Low Loader Overmass Period Permit

12 ...........................................Bye bye Boom Gates 13 ...........................................DGL acquires Opal Australasia 15 ...........................................Plan ahead as road safety upgrades underway in the South-West 16...........................................Western Roads Federation – WA Driver training initiative gains momentum

18...........................................2021 Waste to Wages 19...........................................NHVR prosecutes multiple engine remapping charges 20.........................................Australia’s first hydrogen-powered trucks to be delivered 21 ...........................................Mid West’s first heavy vehicle braking testing facility

7...............................................Questions to the WA State Government 8..............................................Fair Go for Owner Drivers 14...........................................Bird’s Eye View 22.........................................HCVC 24.........................................WA Transport History Endorsed by

WA TRANSPORT magazine

WATM • June 2021

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