Greens wants Sydney-wide truck tax introduced following announcement of congestion charge at Port Botany
The NSW Government is coming under pressure for introducing a congestion charge for trucks at Port Botany, with claims it should be Sydney-wide.
Greens spokeswoman on transport Lee Rhiannon says the off-peak incentive as well as the $1 billion Port Botany expansion needs to be sent to the scrap heap.
She says Minister for Ports and Waterways decision will not effectively address growing container volumes and truck movements in and around the port.
“His plan to charge trucks using Port Botany in peak periods will increase truck movements at night, disturbing local residents,” Rhiannon says.
“The Greens support higher taxes on all trucks travelling through Sydney at all times, but not this half-baked solution.”
Rather the truck taxes being spent on port landside developments, Rhiannon wants the Government to follow London’s example by quarantining truck charges for rail freight and public transport initiatives.
Rhiannon claims the money will allow Tripodi to spend the proceeds on everything other than rail freight.
The Greens have also lambasted the Government’s $1 billion Port Botany expansion, arguing the money needs to be invested in public transport.