New M1 alignment opens to heavy vehicles in Hunter region

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator has opened the new M1 alignment between Raymond Terrace and Black Hill in New South Wales to heavy vehicles holding existing class 1, 2 and 3 permits, in two notices published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 10 September 2026. The access takes effect on 11 September 2026 and runs for three years, expiring on 10 September 2029.

The two instruments are the New South Wales Class 1 and Class 3 M1 alignment between Raymond Terrace and Black Hill Notice 2026 (No.1) (official reference C2026G00598) and the New South Wales Class 2 M1 alignment between Raymond Terrace and Black Hill Authorisation Notice 2026 (No.1) (official reference C2026G00599). Both were signed by Jose Arredondo, Manager Network Access Policy at the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.

Legal basis and scope

The class 1 and class 3 notice is made under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), which gives the regulator power to exempt a category of class 1 or 3 heavy vehicles from compliance with mass or dimension requirements. The class 2 notice is made under section 138 of the HVNL, which authorises the use of stated categories of class 2 heavy vehicles.

The notices do not apply to all heavy vehicles, but only to those already holding a permit that authorises them to operate between Black Hill and Raymond Terrace:

Class 1 and 3 vehicles must hold a current mass or dimension exemption permit issued before 11 September 2026 under section 122 of the HVNL.
Class 2 vehicles must hold a current authorisation issued before 11 September 2026 under section 143 of the HVNL.
In both cases the permit must list routes between Black Hill and Raymond Terrace as part of its network conditions.

The alignment and routes

The M1 alignment covered by the notices comprises two connections:

a 10-kilometre connection between the Black Hill interchange and the Tomago interchange (with the Tarro interchange also named in the class 2 notice); and
a five-kilometre connection between the Tomago interchange and the Raymond Terrace interchange.

Eligible vehicles may travel the alignment when operating under a permit for approved routes between Black Hill and Raymond Terrace, which are defined as the Pacific Motorway from Black Hill, John Renshaw Drive, the New England Highway, Maitland Road and the Pacific Highway at Raymond Terrace.

Conditions of use

An eligible vehicle operating on the new alignment must comply with the mass and/or dimension requirements specified in its permit, and with any conditions that apply to the vehicle when operating on the routes between Black Hill and Raymond Terrace. The notices apply in New South Wales only.

The three-year window gives operators holding existing permits certainty to use the new infrastructure as it comes into service, without needing to reapply for separate access.

Source: Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, Government Notices, 10 September 2026 (official references: C2026G00598 and C2026G00599).