Motorists Leave $140M in Toll Relief Unclaimed According to Government
Sydney drivers are missing out on $140 million in toll relief, prompting government officials to encourage claims for the support scheme.
Sydney, Australia, Toll Relief, Cost of Living, John Graham
Sydney: The NSW government is calling on local drivers to take advantage of a toll relief program. Believe it or not, there’s a whopping $140 million just sitting there, unclaimed!
If you’re spending over $60 a week on tolls, you can get some of that back. This “toll cap” was rolled out in January 2024 to help folks in western Sydney who are feeling the pinch.
Roads Minister John Graham mentioned that while $75 million has been paid out, a lot of money is still waiting for drivers to claim it. He’s urging everyone to hop onto the Service NSW website and grab what they’re owed.
Since the program kicked off, over 276,000 claims have been processed, with the average payout around $277. Some suburbs, like Parramatta and Merrylands, have even higher average claims, hitting $300 or more.
Right now, about 720,000 road users can make a claim. Graham pointed out that the toll cap is a small step towards making things fairer for those who rely heavily on toll roads.
There’s also ongoing talk with private toll road companies about reforming the system. In December, the government reached a preliminary deal with Transurban to create a fairer pricing system across the board.
Graham emphasized that they’re working hard to make tolls more equitable for everyone. The NSW Liberal opposition has been asked for their take on this situation.