Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch is calling for answers from Central Coast Labor MPs following revelations that the State Government is considering introducing two-way tolling on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Crouch said that in 2021 the region’s Labor MPs David Harris (Wyong), David Mehan (The Entrance), Liesl Tesch (Gosford) and Yasmin Catley (Swansea) all joined the then Opposition Leader Chris Minns to oppose two-way tolls on the bridge prior to the last state election and pledged to fight implementation of any new tolls in NSW.
“Back in November 2021, Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said the yearly toll bill for Central Coast locals would ‘skyrocket into thousands of dollars if a northbound toll was introduced on the Sydney Harbour Bridge’ and now she and her Central Coast Labor colleagues are completely silent on the matter,” Crouch said.
He said the toll would hurt Central Coast locals during a cost-of-living crisis.
“Whether it be returning from Sydney Airport to pick up loved ones or coming home from a day’s work in the city – this will be another kick in the guts for Central Coast locals,” he said.
Crouch said the move added to a list of failures for the Central Coast, including taking away free parking at Gosford Hospital, “gutting” the Active Kids vouchers and cutting the Regional Seniors Travel Card.
But Member for Wyong and Minister for the Central Coast David Harris said the Government would weigh-up benefits of toll revisions to Central Coast commuters as it considered the final report of the Independent Toll Review handed down last week by Professor Allan Fels and Dr David Cousins.
The report exposes the full impact of toll road privatisation by the former government and shows how Central Coast drivers could save money under the scenarios it modelled, Harris said.
He said the report highlighted Sydney’s toll road network was a poorly-functioning patchwork of numerous different price structures that would cost motorists $195B in nominal terms in tolls over the next 35 years on top of the billions they had already paid.
The report notes the lack of a unified tolling system has created complexity, inefficiency, inequities and unfairness.
Among recommendations presented to government following the review is the introduction of two-way tolling on the bridge, with the extra revenue to help lower tolls on the remainder of the network.
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It also recommends tolls should be based on a declining distance charge per kilometre and that decisions on toll setting should be overseen by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).
Harris said the Government would consider the report and respond in due course.
He said the Government was committed to reforming Sydney’s toll network to restore fairness, simplicity and transparency to the system and put the interests of motorists above those of private investors.
“Central Coast commuters pay more than most, with a one-way trip into Sydney via toll roads costing close to $30 in peak times,” he said.
“The NSW Government has just received the report and we need to consider it closely before making any decisions; however I will be working together with my fellow Central Coast Labor MPs to ensure Central Coast commuters benefit from any moves to make the tolling system simpler and fairer.
“The previous Liberal government became addicted to tolls and the Labor government introduced toll relief, beginning with the $60 toll cap that has been helping Central Coast commuters.”
The full final report of the Independent Toll Review can be viewed at www.treasury.nsw.gov.au/toll-review
Terry Collins