Owner/Driver #339

NatRoad Warren Clark
Toll road discrimination
Sydney’s NorthConnex compulsory truck
regulations are now being enforced
TRUCK REGULATIONS on Pennant
Hills Road are now being enforced.
Truck drivers who seek to avoid
the compulsory NorthConnex
tunnel in Sydney face fines of
$194 each time they travel along
Pennant Hills Road without a
genuine pickup or delivery destination
along that road.
Trucks carrying dangerous goods, or
restricted access vehicles, may continue using
Pennant Hills Road, but all trucks over the
length of 12.5m or the height of 2.8m are
forced to pay $24.34 per trip.
NatRoad asked the NSW government to
determine the position that no further toll
roads should be mandated for heavy vehicles.
There should always be an alternative route to
a tolled route.
The NorthConnex experience should not be
repeated. Many in the road transport industry
continue to suffer from the detrimental
business impact of COVID-19 and the impact
of compulsory tolls is further affecting many
businesses’ already slim profit margins.
An industry survey in 2020 found that
average net profit (after tax) margins in the
sector have fallen to around three per cent
of revenue, increasing the pressure many
fleets face when it comes to modernising
their transport equipment and requiring cost
reduction measures to be introduced.
FORWARD PLANNING
NatRoad has urged the government to
consider establishing an independent body
to monitor and report on the operation of
tollways and the costs to users, as well as to
guide the g overnment on whether future toll
roads are required or cost-effective and/or
their location.
In the absence of such a body, NatRoad
WARREN CLARK, NatRoad’s
chief executive officer,
has more than 20 years’
experience leading and
developing business for
emerging companies.
Warren has held the
position of CEO at
various companies and
is a certified chartered
accountant.
has asked that any forward plans on tolling
roads be shared with stakeholders so forward
planning can occur.
Often the placement of toll roads can cause
congestion and other pressures on nearby
roads. NatRoad members have indicated
that this has occurred in respect of the
Bexley area following the introduction of
a toll on the M5 East. If this toll road was
also made mandatory it would be extremely
disappointing and we have indicated that this
should not happen.
No doubt private sector investment in road
infrastructure can help improve the road
network. Less congested, safer, well-designed
roads can equate to time savings, reliability
and reduced heavy vehicle operating costs.
But these advantages all amount to very little
where tolling arrangements unreasonably
discriminate against heavy vehicle operators,
as has happened with the construction of the
NorthConnex tunnel both in the setting of
tolls and in the mandated requirement to use
the tunnel.
NatRoad continues to work with
governments and toll operators to ensure
tolling fees are decided with greater
transparency, in an effort to avoid a similar
situation to NorthConnex occurring on other
toll roads like the new M5 East toll.
Now that fines are about to bite for those
who don’t take NorthConnex, it’s time to
ensure that the NorthConnex debacle never
happens again.
“It’s time to ensure that
the NorthConnex debacle
never happens again.”
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APRIL 2021 39