Information Bulletin.
19 October 2008

New ATA NT Executive Officer Appointed.

ATA NT members will welcome the appointment of Territory born Louise Bilato as the association’s new Executive Officer, as from the end of this month.

Louise brings with her some strong ties with the NT road transport industry as her father, Dino Bilato, owned and operated trucks in the Northern Territory from the late 1950s at the Rum Jungle uranium mine and later sub-contracted to the Commonwealth Department of Works building beef roads, before turning his hand to sand mining in the seventies and supplying Besser Bricks with sand for many years in the post-Cyclone Tracy construction boom.

She has three brothers, Robert, John and Frank who continue to make their mark through their successful trucking company, G & S Transport based in Alice Springs.

Louise is of course already known to many of you and your drivers through her work assisting to implement heavy vehicle accreditation systems and delivering training in Fatigue Management.

Louise brings with her a wealth of valuable skills and experience, ensuring that the interests of ATA-NT members continue to be well represented at all levels.

New ATA NT Committee

As a result of the recent ATA NT AGM, we now have a new and expanded executive and committee that includes some new and old faces:

IGA is Looking for Trucks to Assist “The Big Move” to the Business Park on 31 October.

Independent Grocers are relocating to their new Distribution Centre at the end of October and are calling for owner operators interested in picking up some extra work that weekend. IGA is looking for 20 pallet refrigerated Pantechnicons, Tautliners and flat tops for over that weekend. Any one interested in finding out more can contact IGA’s Peter de Jonge, at 0889 470 363 or email to peter.dejonge@metcash.com.

Senate Inquiry into the Heavy Vehicle Charges Legislation

Bill McKinley from ATA advises that the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee will be holding a public inquiry into the Government’s heavy vehicle charges legislation before the Federal parliament.

ATA wants an additional 90 parking bays a year built, the reality is that we need thousands, but it’s a start.

Bill says that submissions to the inquiry close on Monday 10 November.

The committee will also hold public hearings in Canberra on that date.

ATA will be making a submission to the committee, and has also sought leave to give evidence at the hearing.

The committee is chaired by Senator Glenn Sterle (ALP, WA). The other members of the committee are:

• Senator Christine Milne (Greens, TAS)
• Senator Bill Heffernan (Liberal, NSW)
• Senator Steve Hutchins (ALP, NSW)
• Senator Annette Hurley (ALP, SA)
• Senator Julian McGauran (Liberal, VIC)
• Senator Don Farrell (ALP, SA) standing in for Senator Kerry O’Brien (ALP, TAS)
• Senator John Williams (Nationals, NSW)

Not a remote area person in sight!!!!

The committee is required to report back to the Senate by Friday, 21 November. Source: ATA

Ritchie Bros Auction 28 October 2008

As a sign of what may be ahead in 2009 there is to be a big sale of surplus equipment to be held in Darwin on the 28 th October, an in the current climate of credit limitations it could be a sign that the good times are over.

According to Ritchie Bros website there will be equipment on sale on behalf of Ceccon Transport, Gulf Transport, Downes Graderways, Slingshot Haulage and others.

You can either attend or simply bid online.

Preview begins from October 24 th onwards (8am to 5pm)

You will need to register before the event if you wish to bid live on-line over the Internet.

Ritchie Bros website is at: http://www.rbauction.com/auction_locations_pages/location_darwin_aus_2008332.jsp?auction_id=2008332

• Disclaimer: The Australian Trucking Association NT ( ATA NT) accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of information provided. Recipients should make their own independent evaluation of statements made by the authors or contributing articles in the ATA NT Bulletin.