Western Sydney councils have welcomed the announcement by the NSW Government of a permanent $60 weekly motorway toll cap for motorists.

President of the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC), Councillor Brad Bunting said: “WSROC and councils have been advocating for a fairer NSW tolling system for over 10 years. This included calls for a network toll cap to minimise cost-of-living pressures on our communities.

“Western Sydney residents are more greatly impacted by motorway tolls than those in other parts of Sydney because we travel further and longer to access work, and have fewer viable public transport options.

“Close to 30 per cent – or about 328,000 – of our workers have to commute outside the region due to a lack of local jobs,” said Clr Bunting.

“Making the $60 weekly toll cap permanent will be a huge cost-of-living relief to hundreds of thousands of people in our more car-reliant areas of Western Sydney.”

Since the toll cap was introduced in January 2024, $211.4 million has been returned to drivers, including in the Western Sydney suburbs of Blacktown, Baulkham Hills, Auburn, Bankstown, Merrylands, Marsden Park, Castle Hill, Quakers Hill, Kellyville and Lakemba.

“More than 680,000 claims have been made under the $60 cap,” said Councillor Bunting.

 “In the Blacktown LGA alone, more than $3.5 million has been paid out to 9,400 drivers, closely followed by Baulkham Hills, where $3.2 million has been paid out.

“WSROC’s campaign for a fairer NSW tolling system commenced in 2015 and has spanned four NSW Premiers, and three state inquiries.

“WSROC has been successful in driving changes including rego rebates, pricing reviews, and the establishment of Motorways NSW.

“In 2024, the NSW Government finally delivered on a $60 weekly toll cap to reduce costs for motorists. That the toll cap is now permanent is a great win for Western Sydney,” said Clr Bunting.

WSROC continues to call for:

• A fairer tolling system.
• Clarity and transparency of tolls.
• Different charges depending on people’s circumstances e.g. distance.
• More road revenue invested in Western Sydney’s public transport network.