COMMUNITY SUPPORTS TOLL REMOVAL
Monday 15 February 2010: The M4 Motorway will be handed over to the public
and become toll free tomorrow despite pressure from some quarters for the toll
to stay on.
A survey by NRMA Motoring & Services of almost 1,300 motorists found 71 per cent
supported the Government’s decision to remove the toll once the contract with the toll
operator ran out.
NRMA Motoring & Services Director David Bentham said the NSW Government had
made the right decision.
“A promise was made to the people of NSW and we are pleased the Government has
kept that promise,” Mr Bentham said.
“Motorists have paid for the M4 and they deserve to have the motorway returned to
them.”
Mr Bentham said the Government’s decision to remove the toll meant the public could
have faith that
future road infrastructure projects built in partnership with the private
sector would see the contracts honoured.
“Calls for the toll to be kept to fund future projects ignore the fact that NSW motorists
already contribute billions to the public purse through the fuel excise, registration costs,
stamp duty and other taxes and charges,” Mr Bentham said.
“By removing this toll the public can now have faith that once these motorways are paid
off they will be returned to the public and not be used as another tax.”
The next motorway to come off contract is the Sydney Harbour Tunnel in 2022, followed
by the M5 in 2023.
Contact: Peter Khoury 0439 133 115
NEWS 
