Transport Workers Union boss Richard Olsen calls Sydney toll road projections ‘madness’

There are renewed calls to end the ‘complete madness’ of rising road tolls that a union boss says are ‘crippling’ transport operators.

New projections suggest Sydney’s road tolls will more than double over the next 25 years as a union boss claims the current tolls are already “crippling” road users.

The Transport Workers Union NSW say the doubling and tripling of road tolls over the next 2½ decades will be most strongly felt by truck drivers and other heavy vehicle users who already pay triple the tolls of other vehicle users on most roads.

As per the TWU NSW projections for trucks, the NorthConnex toll, which this week increased to $25.33, will be $35 one-way by 2030 and almost $74 one-way in 25 years.

For cars users, who now pay $8.36 a trip, this would blow out to $24 by 2048 and $49 by 2048.

Projections claim NorthConnex will costs $35 one-way by 2030. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

This is based on a 1 per cent quarterly increase until 2048 that exceeds the predicted inflation rate.

TWU NSW boss Richard Olsen said it was “nothing short of complete madness”.

The state secretary called on the newly-appointed Metropolitan Roads Minister Natalie Ward to take action in 2022.

“Under this government, increases on our toll roads have become just as much a part of Sydney’s New Year’s ritual as the fireworks on the Harbour Bridge,” Mr Olsen said.

“There’s nothing more urgent for the new Roads Minister than providing relief to owner-drivers and transport operators who are being crippled by these massive toll road costs.

“The numbers don’t lie – if the government doesn’t do something urgently, the cost of using these toll roads will triple within the next 25 years.

“How are truck drivers and other small businesses using these roads supposed to afford those kinds of increases?”

TWU NSW secretary Richard Olsen says the numbers don’t lie. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Ms Ward said the NSW government was committed to financially supporting those drivers who choose to use toll roads more often.

“The NSW government is focused on reducing cost of living pressures on NSW households with more than 70 rebates and savings available, including the Toll Relief program and Small Business Fees and Charges Rebate scheme,” Ms Ward said.

“Last financial year almost $70m was paid to more than 200,000 eligible drivers under the Toll Relief scheme which allows regular toll users to claim free rego or half-priced rego.

“That’s in addition to other initiatives including the M5 South-West Cashback scheme and the Small Business Fees and Charges Rebate. This was recently increased from $1500 to $2000 to provide even more relief for regular toll users.

Metropolitan Roads Minister Natalie Ward says there are more than 70 rebates and savings available for toll users. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

“There are a range of factors that have not been considered by the TWU in comparing today’s prices to speculation across a 30 year period.”

NSW Labor has previously vowed to make toll roads a hot button election issue, with NSW Labor leader Chris Minns this year calling for an end to new tolls on existing roads and deals that would keep toll increases in line with inflation.

Tolls on nine roads increased on January 1.

Tolls on the Cross City Tunnel, Eastern Distributor, Hills, M2, Lane Cove Tunnel, WestConnex M8, M5 East and M5 South West are adjusted quarterly, while the WestConnex M4 is increased annually.