Former ACCC chairman Allan Fels, who with economist David Cousins wrote the review, said that negotiations were progressing, and that the review remained “a major input into the negotiations”.
While the details of the negotiations remain confidential, Fels said that any “independent-minded person might conclude it is very likely there will be implementation of the new toll regime by mid next year”, sticking with the expected timeline.
Minns said the government was considering various means of funding the cap, including a future two-way tolling scheme for crossings of Sydney Harbour, including the unfinished Western Harbour Tunnel. Two-way tolling was one of the review’s suggestions.
Minns said that any changes to tolling across the harbour would come only once the tunnel crossing was completed in 2028.
“It’s not everybody’s cup of tea, but we think it’s the fairest thing to do when you consider that a lot of the communities that will use the Harbour Bridge have access to public transport,” Minns said. “Many communities in western Sydney and the Central Coast just don’t have anything like that.”
Tolling giant Transurban declined to comment.
The biggest recipients of toll relief have come from western Sydney suburbs, including Blacktown, Baulkham Hills, Merrylands, Marsden Park, Castle Hill, Quakers Hill, Lakemba, Kellyville, Bankstown, Greystanes, West Pennant Hills and Punchbowl.
There are 35 suburbs where motorists have collectively claimed more than $1 million, while eight have reached $2 million and three have had more than $3 million returned.
The cap has so far resulted in more than $200 million being returned to motorists. Earlier in the year, more than $100 million earmarked for the scheme had not been claimed.
It comes more than a year after the Independent Toll Review found that residents in western Sydney were affected most deeply by the tolls.
The review’s survey found that about 16 per cent of residents spend between $20 and $49.99 a week, about 7 per cent spend $50 to $99.99 a week, and about 3 per cent spend more than $100 a week.
Blacktown, south-west Sydney and Parramatta residents who use toll roads more than once a month spend an average of $95.90, $87.63 and $84.35 a month, respectively, which is above the Greater Sydney average of $60.70.
The Sydney Morning Herald has opened a bureau in the heart of Parramatta. Email parramatta@smh.com.au with news tips.
