Solid Energy first to receive HPMV permit in NZ

27 May 2010

Solid Energy first to receive HPMV permit in New Zealand

Two Solid Energy trucks are New Zealand’s first recipients of High Productivity Motor Vehicle (HPMV) permits issued by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA).

The permits allow the trucks to carry up to 50-tonne loads along the 60km route between New Vale Mine and a customer in Edendale, Southland.

HPMV permits which came into effect on 1 May, 2010, allow existing weight and dimensions rules for trucks to be amended to allow a new class of vehicle, called high productivity motor vehicles, to operate under a special H permit on specified routes, displaying H plates at all times.

The maximum mass limit for a truck carrying a divisible load without a permit is 44 tonnes; HPMVs can go over that limit and some will be able to be longer than current trucks. Solid Energy’s permitted trucks may only operate on the authorised route, which has been approved by the Gore District Council: Goodwin Road to Waimumu Road, then onto State Highway 96 and State Highway 1.

Solid Energy’s New Vale Mine Manager, Antony Stodart, said the Council had approved the trucks’ use of its roads and been very proactive in helping identify the best route with least disruption to the public, roadways and traffic. The NZTA Regional Office had also liaised closely with New Vale Mine to help it meet permit requirements.

“The trucks were a real Southland team effort with Peter Soper of Mainland Trucks helping us meet required standards for the permit, while Steven Keast of Transport Engineering Southland, designed and built them for allowable loading, braking and axle requirements,” Mr Stodart said.

“With less truck movements on the road, this provides a much better solution for Solid Energy environmentally and economically, and we’re rapt that we’ve been the first off the rank too,” Mr Stodart says.

ENDS

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