The NSW Nationals in the state government are keeping freight moving and freight workers COVIDSafe with dedicated pop-up testing sites on key regional roads.
NSW Nationals Regional Transport Minister Paul Toole said the new pop-up testing sites, opening in Narrandera and Tarcutta on Tuesday, will provide an easy way for freight workers to be tested for COVID-19.
“The government has been working closely with the freight industry to make sure we keep the supply chain moving for everyday goods while also implementing measures to keep freight workers healthy and safe,” Mr Toole said.
“We know that heavy vehicles are not able to easily access the large majority of the current community testing locations, either due to the parking restrictions and/or hours of operation and these pop-up sites will make it easier for our truckies to get tested.”
Mr Toole said that as part of the freight industry’s COVID-19 Safety Plan to help industry comply with the newly developed Freight Movement Code for the Domestic Border Controls, freight workers are encouraged to carry out voluntary COVID-19 testing every seven days as a key strategy to slow the spread of the virus.
“After surveying freight drivers on which locations would be most suitable we have established pop-up sites at Narrandera Roadhouse on the Newell Highway and the Tarcutta truck change over area, off the Hume Highway,” Mr Toole said.
“We are working to establish more pop-up testing sites in the coming weeks which will include south eastern NSW and the Central West.
“The freight industry has pulled out all the stops during this challenging time to ensure food and household supplies as well as important medical supplies get to where they are needed most – and we want to ensure we are giving them the support they need to keep doing that.”
The pop-up testing stations at Narrandera and Tarcutta will be open seven days a week from 9am to 4pm with hours of operation to be extended from August 31.
To find out more about the pop-up testing sites visit: http://transport.nsw.gov.au/nswfreightcorona.
