Assistant infrastructure minister tells South Australia to rethink its opposition to tolls.
South Australia’s opposition to tolls may cost it federal funding for the proposed Northern Connector motorway project.
Federal assistant infrastructure minister Jamie Briggs says the Federal Government will consider funding the project, which will provide a new freight corridor for the trucking industry, if the private sector is involved.
In an opinion piece written for the Adelaide Advertiser, Briggs makes clear that private sector involvement should be in the form of a toll on trucks.
“Similar to the $1.6 billion Perth Freight Link, the Northern Connector is a freight corridor which could be jointly funded by the Australian and South Australian governments in partnership with the private sector,” he writes.
“The scope of the project and the mechanism by which the private sector generates a revenue stream from this investment could take the form of an industry specific user-charge model.
“In essence, it will be a toll for trucks, not cars, meaning thousands of heavy vehicles off suburban roads, making our streets safer while at the same time delivering a stronger economy.”
Briggs says the benefits of the Northern Connector will outweigh the cost of a toll on trucks through faster travel times, reduced fuel consumption and lower vehicle maintenance costs.
If built, the Northern Connector will be a 15.6km six-lane motorway connecting the Northern Expressway with Port Adelaide.
“When completed, it would alleviate congestion and remove freight vehicles from the existing Port Wakefield Road which is forecast to reach capacity in several years,” Briggs says.
“The Australian Government would consider funding the necessary work to develop a plan for the Northern Connector with private sector involvement.”
Briggs accused SA of sticking to “stubborn ideologies” on infrastructure funding and adds that the state needs to consider “new and innovative” ways to finance projects.
SA transport minister Stephen Mullighan raised his opposition to toll roads during his speech at this year’s Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) conference in Adelaide.
“The fact of the matter is toll roads don’t stack up in South Australia,” he told conference attendees.
“We don’t have the traffic volumes either in heavy vehicles or in light vehicles to warrant tolls to be able to meet the cost of the sorts of transport infrastructure upgrades that I’ve just been speaking about.”
Mullighan also told the conference imposing a toll on trucking operators would be “incredibly unfair”.
Photography: Brad Gardner