Annual Report 2008-2009 - Department of Transport

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National transport reform agenda
The Department has continued to support the Minister for Transport’s
participation in the Australian Transport Council (ATC), which is responsible
for the coordination and integration of all transport and road policy issues
at a national level. The ATC is supported by the Standing Committee on
Transport (SCOT). Over the last year, these bodies have focused on:
• Completing work on a National Transport Policy Framework in support of
the Council of Australian Governments’ (COAG) national reform agenda.
The Minister continued to chair a working group on climate change,
environment and energy until May 2009, when the nine Ministerially-led
ATC working groups were restructured into six CEO-led SCOT Standing
Sub-Committees.
• Progressing towards a seamless, coordinated transport system
by establishing a National Road Safety Council and single national
systems for heavy vehicle regulation, registration and licensing, rail
safety regulation and investigation, and maritime regulation. The ATC
proposals were considered by COAG at its July 2009 meeting.
The Department also continued to participate in the ongoing nationally driven
transport reform agenda being managed through the National Transport
Commission, with key actions and decisions involving:
• amendments to the National Heavy Vehicle Driver Licensing and Vehicle
Registration Regulations;
• the Australian Road Rules 8th Amendment Package;
• a National Strategy for Rail Safety Data 2008–10;
• the Australian Vehicle Standards Rules 6th Amendment Package 2008;
• a number of driver fatigue management reforms;
• a state submission to the Review of the National Transport Commission;
• the cost-benefit analysis for the national heavy vehicle enforcement
strategy; and
• a rail safety standards development policy.
www.transport.wa.gov.au
Regional services
The Regional Services Business Unit comprises 134 staff in seven regions
and is the regional ‘one-stop shop’ responsible for managing the delivery of
the Department’s services, compliance programs and providing advocacy
and coordination across the agency in regional Western Australia.
An aim of the Director General has been to develop a one-stop shop customer
service approach where possible. The Department has one-stop shops in
Kalgoorlie, Albany, Bunbury, Geraldton, Carnarvon, Exmouth, Karratha and
Broome which provide or manage access to the full range of departmental
services.
The Department has secured seven additional staff and is securing
appropriate equipment. The primary aim is to raise the level of transport
safety and compliance in the regions in line with the increasing number
of tourists, mining activity and regional recreational vessels (which have
increased by 23 per cent in the last five years).
*This activity also relates to Goal 4 and 5.
www.transport.wa.gov.au/aboutus
Working with community groups
The Department has well-established working relationships with the State’s
Indigenous community and their representatives. In the past year, the
Department has successfully resolved Native Title issues with the Malgana
people over Dirk Hartog Island, which in turn will enable the creation of a
national park over the island, along with eco-tourism sites. An in-principle
agreement was also achieved with the Yawuru people in Broome to enable
50 hectares to be leased by the Yawuru community to the Broome Port
Authority. This extra land will enable further expansion of the Broome Port to
cater for increased activity resulting from gas exploration and production in
the Browse Basin. The Department also negotiated a framework agreement
with the Baiyungu Aboriginal Corporation (BAC) for the expansion of
developments at Coral Bay. The BAC Framework Agreement will provide
workers accommodation, eco-tourism and supporting infrastructure
development to enable the ongoing enhancement of Coral Bay as a major
tourism centre.
*This activity also relates to Goal 4.
http://lands.rdl.wa.gov.au/stateland/