RACV Total Care - Tow Pack add on

Isn,t that going to change the game !! when people decide how an
when an where they go in future
mechpete

Hi Graeme,
I think you will find that normal Total Care includes a trailer that is not longer than 6.7 metres and that the Tow Pack to which you refer extends the length to 9 metres. This distance is for the trailer only, not the vehicle and trailer.
Chris.

In respect to the other point about a road requiring a permit. In the case of the GCR, (and many others) the permit gives the right to travel through Abroginal Lands and that in itself does not make it a private road. I could be wrong, but I believe permits mainly are to keep records of traffic using the road and to give instructions to travelers as to the conditions that are applicable to using the road. (IE not deavating either side of the road and possibly instructions re camping.) I may also be travelling this road this year so I thought I would clarify the matter with the Central Land Council who issue the permits. Their reply is that in the event of breakdown a rescue vehicle is not required to obtain a permit. (see the emails below, excellent service 3 minutes to give a reply). Should I breakdown on any road that requires a permit and call Total Care and they claim it requires a permit I would be telling them that rescue vehicles do not require permits. I think I will take a copy of these two emails with me and together with their CLC) telephone number 08 8951 6211, if I have a problem with Total Care I will refer them to Debbie Bruce.

Chris Smith
15:27 (33 minutes ago)

to permits
Hi,

If I have a permit to travel the GCR and break down, does it also cover a rescue vehicle while rescuing me. Are the rescue vehicles automatically covered as a rescue could well occur when your offices are closed and/or the driver of a rescue vehicle may not know the permit procedure.

Cheers,

Chris Smith
0419846292
cfsbike@gmail.com

Debbie Bruce
15:30 (31 minutes ago)

to me, Permits
In an instance like this it would be ok.

Thanks
Debbie

The RACV story about the GCR being a "private road" sounds like a regular cop-out to avoid their responsibilities, to me.

However, it does raise a plethora of interesting questions about the precise status of roads through Aboriginal Lands, though.

FYI, the road from Uluru to the W.A. border is called the Tjukaruru Rd and it traverses Aboriginal Lands controlled by the NT Central Land Council, who issue travel permits for it.

The GCR traverses Aboriginal Land (specifically Aboriginal Reserve Numbers 17614, 25050, and 25051) and permits to travel the GCR are issued by the W.A. Aboriginal Affairs Dept.

The CLC website FAQ answers a lot of the questions as to why travel permits are required.

CLC - FAQ's - Travel Permits

Aboriginal Lands are freehold land held by the recognised Aboriginal claimants under the Native Title Act 1993. This land cannot be sold or transferred to others.

The laws associated with roads are covered in W.A. by the Crown Land Practice Manual - and specifically, Chapter 5.
A "private road" is recognised under W.A. laws, but is given no special or exclusive or restrictive rights, as compared to "declared" or "gazetted" roads.

In W.A., all public roads have a defined "road reserve", which can vary between the original 1 chain measurement (20M) to 10 chains (220M).
Very old road reserves are 1 chain wide, roads from about the early 1900's are 2 chains wide (40M), and some roads in relatively recently-developed areas, such as the SE Wheatbelt of W.A. are sometimes 10 chains wide (220M).

The Great Central Road would almost certainly have a defined road reserve, put in place long before Native Title was recognised.
The GCR has had unfettered public access for a period of more than 10 yrs, which classes it as a "thoroughfare" (publically-accessible road) under Common Law.

The Native Title Act has little effect of roads, as the over-riding Act in W.A., related to roads, is the Main Roads Act, 1930.
The fact that the owner of a private road that is accessible to the public (even though the freehold owner issues permits for the use of that road), does not affect the fact that the GCR is a public road under Common Law - and the RACV has very weak grounds in refusing to service vehicles using that road.

W.A. Crown Lands Practice Manual

Cheers, Ron.

I think that you will find that the new Tow Package will cover caravans to nine (9) metres and tow vehicles to eight (8) tonne.

Cheers

Merv