NSW Roads Minister John Graham flags important update, pending release of interim Fels Tolling Review

A major announcement has been flagged for Australia’s most tolled city, with drivers expected to pay at least $123bn in tolls by 2060.

The NSW Roads Minister has flagged an “important update” pending the release of an interim report into the wide-ranging review on Sydney’s complex web of toll roads.

During budget estimates on Tuesday, John Graham said the government had received the interim report into the Fels Toll Review, which would be released “shortly”.

“It will be an important update when it comes to the tolling discussion. One I’m very keen to have,” he said.

Led by former ACCC chair Allan Fels, the report will set out recommendations into future reform on Sydney’s tolled road systems and release previously top-secret contract details that underpin the privatised roads.

Government modelling released in November suggests NSW drivers will pay at least $123bn in tolls by 2060 when existing tolling contracts are set to expire.

So far the government has ruled out options like putting a congestion tax on drivers entering the CBD, similar to what is in place in London, and creating more tolled networks.

Roads Minister John Graham has welcomed the pending interim report into Sydney’s toll roads. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Options that remain on the table include a move for distanced-based tolling or time-of-day pricing that would make tolled roads more affordable outside of peak travel hours.

While Mr Graham said more details would be released with the interim report, he doubled down on his commitment to disclose details of the contracts.

“(The review) will reveal key details for the public that in my view should be public,” he said.

So far, the government has implemented its election commitment of a $60 a week toll cap for private drivers and an M5 East and M8 truck multiplier rebate to encourage truck drivers to use toll roads and reduce traffic on local roads.

Mr Graham recommitted to disclosing tolling contract details upon the completion of the review. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Minister grilled over Aerotropolis road

Questions have been raised over when Labor would be able to deliver, or at least award a contract for, a key road in NSW’s slow-moving Aerotropolis development.

Currently, $50m has been committed in planning funding on upgrading Fifteenth Ave, which will become a pivotal transport corridor that will connect Bradfield with the Western Sydney International Airport via Liverpool CBD.

However during estimates, Mr Graham was unable to confirm whether the upgrade would be delivered, or if a contract would be awarded, for the project before 2027.

Opposition roads spokeswoman Natalie Ward questioned whether a lack of delivery planning was evidence of a broken election promise to upgrade Fifteenth Ave, comments that Mr Graham rejected.

“But planning is not an upgrade, is it Minister? Your commitment was to upgrade Fifteenth Ave. Will the people of Leppington get an upgraded road by 2027?” she said.

Questions were raised on the progress of a key road that will link Bradfield to the Western Sydney International Airport. Picture: Supplied

Mr Graham said the government was working with Transport for NSW (TfNSW) in the delivery of the road however stressed the “scale” and cost of the task, as work on the road had not begun prior to Labor winning government.

“This is a very big task, and there wasn’t enough funding committed. We’ll have to find more, we’ll have to commit more in future budgets,” he said.

Mr Graham said he wanted to be “upfront” about the “significant amount of work” required to complete the corridor.

“This work (the $50m planning funding) will be delivered in full. Will it finish the job? Certainly not, there’ll be more work required to any and other areas around the airport,” he said.

“That work has already started … we’ve got more than three years to go before that has to be delivered, and I can guarantee here today, it will be.”

Mr Graham acknowledged the importance of the corridor to ensure workers were able to travel into the Aerotropolis.

“I think we learned during Covid that much of the workforce is centred in that southwest area, but we need to be able to get them to the airport when it opens,” he said.