Congestion tax and highway robbery

[KW4K4]

Many will have seen the news today that our inept state government has decided to hit people in their pockets again to help claw back the deficit it has created :storm:

Slugg the man with another dollar for peak hour crossings of the Harbour bridge and Sydney Tunnel, as they clearly have alternatives to getting to work via other crossings :hatter:

One positive I have noticed this week that true to Clover Moore's promise of more bike parking that there are now more bike parking spots in the CBD.

Was there ever going to be a development on reduction on tolling for two wheeled transport? Or is my only option to dump the trusty sc00ter for a lucky dip position on the overcrowded morning trains on the north shore line??

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/major-initiatives/2008/11/11/1226318638024.html

[Captain]

Didn't I tell youse that we always follow what England does?

[Turtle]

More bike parking in the city is good, i ride to the city for lunch quite often. The first decent thing the "Dog Collar" Wearer has done..

[Naked Twin]

This is a stab at non Labour voters. Those North of the bridge have not had any additional public transport in way of Rail up grade in a hundred years.

If we need the congestion tax why is it that the state government is going to drop the tolls on the M4 when it comes back to public ownership, 13 million dollars a week to be given away.

Makes perfect sense to me.

Oh as a side point why are we in so much debt, paying for the olympics. I thought the tourists were going to pay for it.

Nick

[dilbee]

if you can afford to live in the north shore you can afford to pay another dollar. Im sorry but for all the people who dont use public transport to travel to the city they deserve to be hit up. The city is over crowded as it is with traffic.

[noz]

If we need the congestion tax why is it that the state government is going to drop the tolls on the M4 when it comes back to public ownership, 13 million dollars a week to be given away.It was promised the toll on the Sydney Harbour Bridge would be dropped when it was paid off.

Also, apparently some state governments limited the toll for motorcycles to one quarter the going rate for cars. Sounds fair to me? :ayyy:

[KW4K4]

if you can afford to live in the north shore you can afford to pay another dollar.

Actually you are totally right. I live on the north shore therefore i must be able to afford another dollar a day.

That is a fair method for determining taxation and a legitimate method of governance.

The fact that I would pay two dollars a day more for viable alternative is totally missing the point.

[tazkenny]

if you can afford to live in the north shore you can afford to pay another dollar. Im sorry but for all the people who dont use public transport to travel to the city they deserve to be hit up. The city is over crowded as it is with traffic.

shite

[dungbeetle]

hmmm congestion. what is that?
when we have a traffic jam here its because a horse has stopped and had a shit in the main road!!!:lmao:

must suck having to pay for it!!

[Wiccad]

hmmm congestion. what is that?
when we have a traffic jam here its because a horse has stopped and had a shit in the main road!!!:lmao:

must suck having to pay for it!!

Oh so you havent heard about the "watching horse take a dump in the main street" fee your local councill has on its agenda for next month?

[Wiccad]

It was promised the toll on the Sydney Harbour Bridge would be dropped when it was paid off.

Also, apparently some state governments limited the toll for motorcycles to one quarter the going rate for cars. Sounds fair to me? :ayyy:

A reduction for Tolls for motorcycles is being actively persued, even Syd City councill has joined the frey (motorcycle transport policy). 50% rate is more likely an outcome than 25% is, but its better than the current situation.

[Captain]

I remember when cars used to pay 20c and bikes 5c to cross the bridge, and if it was raining they would just wave you through.
I also don't like the chances of this useless state govt cutting any tolls, they have just canned the bus passes for the kids ...

[Dr freedom]

Roosendumbcnut said on 2UE this morning that every toll in NSW will rise during the peak period times they are introducing.. that makes sense hey.

He then said that going under the tunnel & avoiding the city is still liable to the congestion tax.. yea, that makes sense as well Eric you dropkick.

& something you wont read about is the moron water minister secretly took a delegation of union tools on a tour of the desal plant site yesterday. John Holland (the builder) has been successful using federal laws in keeping the union off the site.

Wtf is wrong with this state?
We cant get a premier who fckn drives a car himself (Carr/Rees) & they fck roads up.

The NRMA is in a board meeting this morning & when they finish it, they are going to try & figure a way to mobilise their 2.1 million members into some sort of protest.

Imagine if everyone in the state took their toll passes off for a day .. the toll companies would go into melt down.

[Col]

good excuse to get to work later... if your employer allows for this...

[dilbee]

id tell ya now. If i lived in the north shore and had to go to the city having the same shit pay im on now id be catching our shite transport as it be cheaper and no dout quicker than sitting in peak hour traffic.

[noremac]

Rubbish. I lived on the Northern Beaches for years, and despite what you might believe most people there are struggling just like anywhere else. The vast majority are just normal workers, tradesmen etc. They pay their taxes just like you do, but get much less in return. That's fair, is it?

How the fuck are you supposed to use public transport, when it's in such a mess? And the city is not overcrowded; the fault lies with the governent, who pocket huge fees from developers in lieu of underground parking but then they don't build any car parks. I can drive around town (and I do) faster now than I did in the 80's. What a load of crap they are feeding us, it's just an excuse to slug us more.
:confused1:

[Naked Twin]

id tell ya now. If i lived in the north shore and had to go to the city having the same shit pay im on now id be catching our shite transport as it be cheaper and no dout quicker than sitting in peak hour traffic.

What about if you live in the North West like Castle Hill or Quakers Hill on the shit wage? I tell you what you do, you drive on the M7 and M2 (toll both ways), take the lane Cove tunnel (toll both ways) then the harbour bridge, total cost over $20 per day to sit in traffic. Your alternative stand in line for 40 minutes to stand on a bus for over and hour. I took the bus from Castle Hill to the city on a Saturday around lunch time, by the time we hit the M2 it was standing room only, on a Saturday! Of course all us rich people North of the bridge can afford it. This state government was going to build a second crossing over the spit, tenders were out and it was down to Baulderstone and John Holland, but not long after the election, after the labour candidate did not get in the local seat the project is shelved due to being supposedly nearly double the budget. Well truth be known Baulderstone were only 15% over the budget.

My wife works at Taronga Zoo as a zoo keeper (shit wages but she loves the job) and had to travel the above except the harbour bridge every day to get to work.

They should have an ignorant tax for all those who think because you live North of bridge you drive a porsche and live in mansions. Maybe some of those people have actually worked for a living, put their house and life on the line to try build a business so they employ people. Stop being so ignorant.

If you want to make it fair, drop the M5 and M4 cash back and have the user pay system for everyone, at least they have an alternative to catch a train, and in fact those in the south west are getting a duplication of the rail line so they can have express trains. Nice hey.

Rant over
Nick

[PlatinumGrit]

The problem with NSW is that the bulk of people won't think about who they elect until the state becomes an absolute basket case.

There are countless independent candidates who are locals, passionate about local issues and they've got good heads on their shoulders.

No-one votes for 'em. People either vote Labor or Liberal, and basically, both parties are the same.

Given the economic state of our State, and the Labor-party leeches installed in all the public service positions (political appointees in the RTA / Rail / Water / Environment Dept / etc) on massiva salaries who do nothing but sit in their office and look at porn all day... NSW is a basketcase. Victoria, SA, they had issues, but the issues cruising for Sydney in the future will make those States look like country towns. And it pisses me off because this is my home, it's where I've grown up and I love this place.

[zRoYz]

It's all politics which means we have people with no idea running everything, you vote in people that really have no idea about forward planing & info structure. Most have no professional qualification in the portfolio they run. It's like asking an accountant to strip a motor they have no idea.

NSW has the problem that nearly the total intake of immigrants settle here as there first point of call & it might take years before they settle else where. So we have those numbers plus the normal birth rate growth which is turning this state into an over crowded ghetto. We don't get anywhere enough money from the federal government & our info structure isn't being planed ahead, it is planed on a add hoc basis.

A perfect example is housing & you see it in every suburb were there was once a single house that has been replaced with town houses or a block of flats. On an av there was 2 cars with the single house & now there is 10-20 occupying that space. When you look at the changes in your suburbs do you see roads widened etc to cope. No you see round a bouts, speed humps, speed limits lowered which does nothing but create more grid lock.

Even when they bother to build a major road they always get it wrong & over estimate or under estimate it's use & then because they get it wrong dump the problem back on the tax payer. Toll roads should be scraped it is an unfair tax depending where you live there should be a standard levy on your rego that covers there cost. Setting up private companies to build & run toll roads because the government can't pay is insane just like when the government needs money they start selling there assets which is great for a short term solution but in the end once everything is sold they have no money making enterprises so taxes will increase.

The joke on the population of NSW is how can we use public transport when it doesn't meet the demand on the system now, add all the people that drive to that system & you have complete melt down. What should happen is all of NSW leave there car at home for one week & use public transport which will in turn kill the system & the economy due to people just wont get to work on time if at all. Then when that happens the government might relies they need people to drive & stop slugging us for there short sightedness.

[dilbee]

ok with all the pople who complain living in the north shore or where ever that matter. Cant use transport as it not there or crowded etc or toll cost too much if you do use the roads.

Simple

Get a new job close to home or move to where this doesn't affect you.

[BART]

Everyone I know is complaining about the crappy NSW Labor government.

We all had the chance to vote them out at the last election and they got back in with a majority. My thoughts were that they had 12 years to do something and did sh*t all.

I didn't vote for them but funny enough......... I can't find anyone that will admit to voting Labor.

[James]

Everyone I know is complaining about the crappy NSW Labor government.

We all had the chance to vote them out at the last election and they got back in with a majority. My thoughts were that they had 12 years to do something and did sh*t all.

I didn't vote for them but funny enough......... I can't find anyone that will admit to voting Labor.

I found one today that admitted to it - should have slapped him silly :dohsmiley:

[dilbee]

well than put ya hand up for voting Labour? I picked the greens. But i guess that went the labour side.

[dungbeetle]

i voted for labour, but im in a liberal seat down here so it is pointless voting for anyone!!
i moved out of sydney 3 and a half years ago cause i hated the place and the cost of living there was to much for me. it really aint that hard to move but perhaps not the way to go for everyone i spose!!

[Captain]

The problem, if you remember Bart, was that the Libs were in ever worse shape. They were self-distructing, when all they had to do was shut up and they would have stormed in.
Even now, what is the opposition suggesting as policy? Bugger all. Doesn't give you much confidence either way, does it?

[wharn-os]

It's all politics which means we have people with no idea running everything, you vote in people that really have no idea about forward planing & info structure. Most have no professional qualification in the portfolio they run. It's like asking an accountant to strip a motor they have no idea.

NSW has the problem that nearly the total intake of immigrants settle here as there first point of call & it might take years before they settle else where. So we have those numbers plus the normal birth rate growth which is turning this state into an over crowded ghetto. We don't get anywhere enough money from the federal government & our info structure isn't being planed ahead, it is planed on a add hoc basis.

A perfect example is housing & you see it in every suburb were there was once a single house that has been replaced with town houses or a block of flats. On an av there was 2 cars with the single house & now there is 10-20 occupying that space. When you look at the changes in your suburbs do you see roads widened etc to cope. No you see round a bouts, speed humps, speed limits lowered which does nothing but create more grid lock.

Even when they bother to build a major road they always get it wrong & over estimate or under estimate it's use & then because they get it wrong dump the problem back on the tax payer. Toll roads should be scraped it is an unfair tax depending where you live there should be a standard levy on your rego that covers there cost. Setting up private companies to build & run toll roads because the government can't pay is insane just like when the government needs money they start selling there assets which is great for a short term solution but in the end once everything is sold they have no money making enterprises so taxes will increase.

The joke on the population of NSW is how can we use public transport when it doesn't meet the demand on the system now, add all the people that drive to that system & you have complete melt down. What should happen is all of NSW leave there car at home for one week & use public transport which will in turn kill the system & the economy due to people just wont get to work on time if at all. Then when that happens the government might relies they need people to drive & stop slugging us for there short sightedness.

Oh man... spot on.....



The problem, if you remember Bart, was that the Libs were in ever worse shape. They were self-distructing, when all they had to do was shut up and they would have stormed in.
Even now, what is the opposition suggesting as policy? Bugger all. Doesn't give you much confidence either way, does it?

I vetoe'd the last election by not being in the country.
Peter Costello did an opinion about governments around the world changing.
In the past 12 months the incumbents in Australia, NZ, Usa and Canada have all been voted out. Britain looks set to follow.

So NSW Labor are on track to be booted out.... all the NSW Liberals have to do is put forward some policy of their own. They can criticise all they like, but until you offer the public a viable alternative how can they put faith in you.

Whatever happened to on Budget night the opposition releasing a budget of their own, showing voters how they are different and would do things differently.....

[Dr freedom]

Carr (no drivers licence)
"everyone, I want you to buy houses out west, Sydney is growing & so are my pockets, this is my command"
Arselickers
"yes bob/ three bags full bob, but there is no way to get out there, it takes 3 hours to travel 50 klms"

Iemma (no water licence)
"im going to recycle your toilet water, stfu & drink yo pee pee fools"
Arselickers
"yes Morris, we will vote for you so we can drink our pee pee, can you please build a little road heading west so we can get home quicker"
Thistle Kostya
"no, me speaker, im a fckwit & no is the answer"

Rees (no drivers licence)
"I was a garbo for 2 weeks & yes, driving under a city is causing it congestion, pay my taxes clowns, I dont drive, stfu or I will sack you"
Arelickers (due to return 2001)

[Captain]

Dr Freedom, you must do one on the worse of them all ... Eric Rooooooooozendaaaaal

[Kat00]

all the NSW Liberals have to do is put forward some policy of their own. They can criticise all they like, but until you offer the public a viable alternative how can they put faith in you.


They don't even have to have policy.
They could do or say just about anything they want. They could put Freddy Kruger up as their leader and still shit the next election in. The nightmare couldn't get any worse.......Oh, hang on, the day has just started.

[Dr freedom]

NSW Liberals have released fiscal policy on everything. They dont have to reply with any policies as yet.. mind you, come June 2010, if they dont start by then, it wont look good.

Their fiscal policies alone are leaps & bounds in front of labors policies as they plan for change & not just scrap & sell.
the only current bullshit from Rees I agree with is the scrapping of the jet cat.
They break down often & the repair bill for each one is in the order of 1 million per year.
Alas being labor they though they know how to "sell (privatise)" & "scrap" quite well, however moving services into positition to replace things like the jet cat, cancelled rail lines etc etc is not their specialty.. giving pretend celebrities like Tony Chochran from V8 Supercars 30 million is what they do best.

[Dr freedom]

Dr Freedom, you must do one on the worse of them all ... Eric Rooooooooozendaaaaal
ah yes .. good ol Roooozendumcnt.. isnt it great to know he is our Crown Representative Treasurer .. :lmao:

especially seeing as the youngest kids from Malcom in the Middle & 2 & a Half Men seem to be more witty & intelligent

we are doomed :(

[Captain]

the only current bullshit from Rees I agree with is the scrapping of the jet cat.
They break down often & the repair bill for each one is in the order of 1 million per year.
Alas being labor they though they know how to "sell (privatise)" & "scrap" quite well, however moving services into positition to replace things like the jet cat, cancelled rail lines etc etc is not their specialty.. giving pretend celebrities like Tony Chochran from V8 Supercars 30 million is what they do best.

Yea, but the detailed report was to sell off the entire ferry / jet and river cats (privatise), as we've seen over and over just how much cheaper (and better) the private sector are. The public sector, whit it's strong union influence is bloody hopeless for the most part.
But what does Rees do? just cancel the jetcat, it only serves a safe liberal / independent seat anyhow, so who cares? Never mind that there are poor transport options from the northern beaches ... and while we're at it, let's raise the bridge toll, all we need to do is call it something else ... how about congestion tax? yes, that'll do.

[Dr freedom]

In this state, if the power is not sold off & the ferries & whatnot, then we not only are we in trouble, although so are your kids.

Victoria was in this situation .. then Kennett came along, using special powers he sold off the electricity for billions & various other items. It is what turned the state around.