- privatisation is a catastrophic failure - government should fully control vital services - eg. water, power, sewerage, fuel.
Lived in Sydney many years back and there were already traffic issues due to increased use of vehicles. It obviously has gotten much worse since. The answer, the government allowed road links and relatively short motorways to be built by private road toll operators with the notion that they can build it quicker hence will solve the issues as it will allow a choice for those to wish to use it for a quicker journey - but of course at a cost to the user. Sydney now has a so called ring around it consisting of 13 such stretches of roads and each command a toll fee.
Excerpts: Sydney is the most tolled city in the world and is home to more than half of this country’s tollways. Households in Sydney’s west are being burdened with the highest tolls with the costs only continuing to increase. 17 of the 20 top toll-paying suburbs are in Sydney’s west, with some people paying up to $6000 per year in toll fees.
One such toll road is forced onto vehicles if the vehicles are not from the local area due to local roads being congested and in an attempt to reduce noise levels. If vehicles happen to use the local roads there are punitive measures in the form of fines around $200. Whist the toll in this case is cheaper, the 'choice to use it' component has been voided for many.
Thus residents, visitors and tourists are slugged like there's no tomorrow just for using their vehicles. Just looking at Sydney's traffic congestion on any given day, one wonders how much carbon footprint does it leave - but blame everything on coal. One thing it does leave each user - a thinner wallet but no so for the coffers for govt initiated 'good for Sydney road system' operators and the government itself.
Welcome to Sydney - a rather expensive city. Thus governments don't always do a good job - unless sucking money out of individuals is a criteria - they excel on that front with a five star rating. Lets see how they go with the 'green' - the preview thus far leaves many in the 'red' not to mention often in the dark.
