Farm Gate Access

The initiative includes the Farm Gate Network provision added to the existing NSW Livestock Loading Scheme (LLS) and the NSW Grain Harvest Management Scheme (GHMS) and a series of tools and services to support NSW councils access decision making.

Farm Gate Access benefits

The key benefits of Farm Gate Access are:

• enabling the use of more productive vehicles to safely transport grain and livestock from the farm gate to market, meaning fewer trips to achieve the same freight task
• reducing administration for farmers and transport operators by reducing the need to apply for access permits
• operators opting in to the network will be required to enroll with telematics which will provide de-identified data of vehicle usage of their road network. This data can be used to support infrastructure planning, maintenance and funding applications. 
• providing resources for participating councils to support access decision-making for Higher Productivity Vehicles.

Want to know how you can sign on to Farm Gate Access?
View or download the Farm Gate fact sheet (PDF, 2.83 MB).

Want to know how you can make use of Farm Gate Access?
View or download the Operators Guide (PDF, 390.37 KB).

Farm Gate Network provisions

NSW Farm Gate was developed in collaboration with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) and is enforceable under the National Heavy Vehicle Law (NHVL).

The Farm Gate Network provides exemptions for eligible heavy vehicles to access low volume, low risk council roads within participating council areas.

Heavy vehicles eligible to operate on the Farm Gate Network must be fitted with a telematics device and be enrolled in the Road Infrastructure Management (RIM) scheme.

Eligible vehicles operating under the LLS and GHMS can travel on the Farm Gate Network within participating councils. This includes road trains up to 36.5 metres long in some council areas.

There are global and local conditions for vehicles operating on the Farm Gate Network. Participating councils have authority to introduce additional operating conditions with these conditions outlined on NSW Farm Gate Network map layer which appears on the LLS, GHMS and RAV maps available online.

Decision making tools and assistance for road managers

To support local road managers, Transport for NSW has developed a range of tools and services to aid the decision-making process around heavy vehicle access. These include access to the Telematics Analytics Platform (TAP) and asset assessment services.

Heavy Vehicle Intersection and Acceleration Risk Calculator

Transport for NSW, in collaboration with the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB) and the NHVR, have developed the Heavy Vehicle Intersection and Acceleration Risk Calculator. The calculator compares the performance of different heavy vehicles types moving through an intersection and has been designed to better inform access decisions.

Update coming soon: Heavy Vehicle Intersection and Acceleration Risk Calculator 

Telematics Analytics Platform

As a condition of Farm Gate Access, all operators will be required to have a telematics device fitted to their vehicle and be participating in the RIM) scheme. As a result, road managers will have access to core analysis and reporting through data analytics. 

De-identified and aggregated telematics data is accessed via the Transport Certification Australia (TCA) Telematics Analytics Platform (TAP), with licences made available by Transport for NSW until 2027.

Access to TAP supports councils to understand how their road infrastructure is used; better plan for infrastructure investment or maintenance activities; and prioritise future projects.

Understanding council assets

Transport will support participating councils to better understand council-owned assets. Transport will assist with data collection and provide access advice in accordance with the same resources used to assess State Road infrastructure.