news, local-news,

A $10 toll for the F6 extension is unacceptable, said Labor’s spokesman for the Illawarra, Ryan Park. He added that a Labor government would focus on rail before road. According to leaked cabinet-in-confidence documents, the extension would open in stages during 2024 and 2025 and would be tolled for 35 years. From 2024, the toll would be $10 for those who travel the length of the extension and would double to more than $20 over the first 20 years based on a formula that would lift the toll higher than the rate of inflation. At $10 a trip, Wollongong motorists would pay $100 a week in tolls – or even more if they have to travel on a second toll road to get to work. The section from Waterfall to Loftus would be untolled. From there, it would cost around $3.75 from Loftus to Taren Point, another $3.75 from Taren Point to President Avenue at Kogarah and then around $3.50 from President Avenue to St Peters. The $10 toll is more expensive than the $8.50 train fare from Wollongong to Central. Asked about the leaked financial appraisal report a spokesman for Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) said the F6 extension was “in the early stages of planning with geotechnical investigations to help inform the future design, route and potential costs”. No final decision about the design or funding had been made. The community would be kept informed as the project progressed, the spokesman said. Other leaked documents seen by Fairfax Media indicate that the proposed motorway can only achieve the promised reductions in travel time if it goes through the Royal National Park or uses land obtained by acquiring and bulldozing 460 homes between Loftus and Waterfall. An RMS engagement and communication plan seen by Fairfax Media says messaging on the national park will need "careful management". Mr Park said a Labor government’s focus would be on the South Coast rail line. “Labor's priority is investment into the South Coast Rail line in the first case,” Mr Park said. “We continue to support work that the government is doing to look at options for the F6 corridor but it must not be prioritised over rail upgrades and investment, nor do we believe the sorts of tolls that are outlined in today's documents is acceptable.”

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/dc5syd-5iz5so8v7o4rxblk21d.jpg/r0_246_3888_2443_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg