A CONGESTION TAX THAT DOESN’T REDUCE CONGESTION

Victor P Taffa

The Harbour Bridge congestion tax has done nothing to reduce congestion according to the RTA’s own statistics and is simply a slug on Northern Beaches motorists, Manly MP Mike Baird said today.

“These latest statistics from the RTA prove what we all suspected – the Government’s ‘time of day tolling’ for Harbour Bridge motorists is a sham,” Mr Baird said.

“The NSW Government introduced this new tax in the Mini Budget claiming it was the key to ‘unclog the city’, but now we know it’s nothing more than highway robbery.

“The RTA’s own figures reveal no noticeable decline in motorists crossing the bridge on weekday mornings since the tax was introduced.”

According to the RTA’s website, the number of motorists crossing the Harbour Bridge between 5:30am to 10:30am was 44,700 in 2008 (before the congestion tax was introduced) and 44,618 in 2009 (when the congestion tax was in place)*.

“The increased toll has done nothing to reduce congestion and Northern Beaches motorists are right to be white with rage that they are paying for another botched plan.

“The NSW Government simply hiked up tolls and dressed up the rationale for a new tax by saying it would unclog the roads – well, like their multiple transport plans, this just hasn’t happened.

“Many Northern Beaches motorists have no option but to drive because of woeful access to public transport and until the NSW Government admits public transport is the key, Sydney’s chronic traffic congestion will remain.

“The Transport Minister has said the many extra millions raised from the increased toll would go towards buses, so where are they?

“With this in mind we renew our calls for the Government to investigate a Bus Rapid Transit system for the Northern Beaches as a matter of priority, with research showing it would likely convert 15-20% of car users to public transport.”

Since 1995 there have been numerous policy backflip and project cancellations for heavy rail expansion under the New South Wales Labor Government.

This also does not take in the $100 Million lost on the T Card system that was replaced 10 years later with My Card.

The Government will trumpet the Epping-Chatswood Railway however that was announced by former Transport Minister Carl Scully as the Westmead-Chatswood Railway and the cost doubled in price for half the distance.

The Government also announced a Bondi-Bondi Beach Railway and new railway stations for the Rocks and the University of Western Sydney, Werrington.

Further to this has been the plan to close the Newcastle Railway.

The biggest transport planning debacle by the Government has been Metro Rail.

The creation of the Metro Rail Authority by an Act of Parliament has been an expensive waste of money. The Metro Rail plans are ill-conceived and totally ignore any notion that private industry is invited to invest in the expansion of Rail Corp’s network.

In the years ahead heavy and light rail must expand otherwise Sydney will grind to a halt.

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Fairfield Local Area Command

Detectives seek witnesses to attempted armed robbery – Fairfield Heights

Detectives in Sydney’s South-West are appealing for witnesses to an attempted armed robbery on a Fairfield Heights bottle shop.

Two female employees were closing the front roller door at the Stanbrook Street business just before 10pm yesterday (Wednesday 3 February), when they observed a man armed with a gun walking towards them.

The gunman attempted to force the door open; however, the two women managed to keep the door closed and call for help.

Police from Fairfield Local Area Command arrived at the scene a short time later but the offender had already fled the area.

Detectives are now seeking public assistance as they continue their inquiries.

The offender has been described as being 165cm tall with a thin build and an olive/tanned complexion. He was wearing a black hooded jumper with ‘1960’ written across the chest in white, black pants and white sneakers at the time of the incident.

Anyone with information about the incident that might be of assistance to investigating officers is urged to contact Fairfield Police Station via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Wagga Wagga Local Area Command

Police investigate attempted ram raid – Wagga Wagga

Police in the Riverina are conducting inquiries after an attempted ram raid on a Wagga Wagga auto parts store overnight.

Just before midnight, an unknown person/s attempted to ram a Toyota Hilux through the front roller door of the Pearson Street business; however, they failed to gain entry to the premises.

The vehicle was seen leaving the area at speed a short time later.

Police from Wagga Wagga Local Area Command and the Crime Scene Section attended the scene and conducted inquiries.

The Hilux was found abandoned at a service station on the Sturt Highway at Ashmont shortly after and was also forensically examined.

Local detectives are now seeking public assistance as their investigations continue.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or any suspicious activity in the Pearson Street area late last night is urged to contact Wagga Wagga Police Station via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Campbelltown Local Area Command

Campbelltown Detectives arrest and charge two men with the murder of Richard Thurman

Detectives have arrested and charged two men over the shooting murder of a man at Ambarvale, in Sydney’s South-West, 12 months ago.

Richard Thurman, 37, was shot a number of times while sitting in the lounge room of his Tisher Place residence on Saturday 14 February last year.

Campbelltown Local Area Command detectives formed Strike Force Austin to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death.

On Tuesday (2 February), detectives arrested a 21-year-old man from Coomera in Queensland.

Subsequently he was charged with murder and robbery whilst armed with a dangerous weapon and refused bail to appear in Campbelltown Local Court yesterday (3 February). He was remanded in custody to re-appear in Liverpool Local Court on Wednesday 21 April 2010.

Detectives also arrested a 31-year-old man from Minto, in Sydney’s South-West, yesterday.

He was questioned at Campbelltown Police Station before being charged with murder and robbery whilst armed with a dangerous weapon.

The man has been refused bail and will appear in Campbelltown Local Court today.

Coffs/ Clarence Local Area Command

Man charged following alleged assault and robbery – Coffs Harbour

A man has been charged following an alleged robbery and assault last night in Coffs Harbour.

At about 10pm (Tuesday 2 February) a 32-year-old Coffs Harbour man was confronted by a man as he walked along Prince Street.

The 32-year-old was punched to the ground and kicked after he refused to hand over money, before his bag was allegedly stolen.

The man was taken by ambulance to hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

A short time later a table and ceramic pots outside a unit on Prince Street were smashed. A woman was inside at the time.

Police from the Coffs/Clarence Local Area Command attended the scene where they utilised OC spray and arrested a 22-year-old Emerald Beach man.

The man was taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station where he was charged with aggravated robbery, threaten injury with intent to commit indictable offence and malicious damage.

The man was refused bail and was due to appear in Coffs Harbour Local Court this afternoon.

Wollongong Local Area Command

Woman dies after being injured in crash – Cataract

A woman has died overnight after being injured in a two car collision at Cataract last month.

About 2.45pm on 19 January, a Mitsubishi Triton 4WD was travelling east along Picton Road at Cataract. The car was pulling out of a break down lane when it was involved in a collision with a Mazda 3 sedan.

A rear seat passenger in the Triton, a 42-year-old Gwynneville woman, suffered internal injuries. The woman underwent emergency surgery at Wollongong Hospital before being transferred to St George Hospital, where she died last night.

Wollongong Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances leading up to the crash. They are appealing to anyone who might have witnessed the collision and are yet to speak to investigators to contact them via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. All information will be treated in strict confidence.

Fairfield Local Area Command

Two brothers arrested, hydro-house discovered – Bonnyrigg

A man and a teenager have been arrested after Police raided a house in Bonnyrigg and unearthed a sophisticated hydroponic cannabis system.

In December 2009 officers from Wetherill Park Region Enforcement Squad attached to Strike Force Plante began investigations into a suspected hydro-house at Anton Place, Bonnyrigg.

About 10:15am yesterday, following a number of investigations, Police conducted a search warrant at the home allegedly locating 51 cannabis plants being grown hydroponically.

Police will allege three rooms of the home had been converted with the plants being grown using lamps and an irrigation system.

The seized cannabis plants have an estimated potential street value of approximately $192,000.

A 21-year-old man and his 17-year-old brother were arrested at the home and taken to Fairfield Police Station where they were interviewed about the matter.

The 21-year-old was charged with cultivate prohibited plant (commercial quantity), conduct drug premises and stealing electricity. He was refused bail to appear at Liverpool Local Court today.

The 17-year-old will be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act by way of caution for concealing a serious offence and being found in/on a drug premises.

Campsie Local Area Command

Man stabbed – Lakemba

Campsie Police are investigating the stabbing of a man at Lakemba overnight.

Police were called to a convenience store in Haldon Street shortly after 9.30pm after a man had sought assistance from the store owner.

The 33-year-old man was treated for a stab wound to his chest by Paramedics before being taken to St George Hospital in a serious condition.

Scene of crime officers and a dog unit were called to examine the area.

Police believe the man may have been involved in an argument immediately before the stabbing.

They are also examining the possibility that the incident may be domestic related.

Anyone who witnessed the stabbing, or who may have information relevant to the investigation, is urged to contact Campsie Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Quakers Hill Local Area Command

Crime Stoppers call leads to $440,000 cannabis haul – Quakers Hill

A caller to Crime Stoppers has resulted in cannabis valued at more than $440,000 being seized from a home in Quakers Hill.

Police from the Quakers Hill Local Area Command executed a search warrant on a home in Pacific Parade about 3.30pm yesterday, following the tip-off from the public.

It will be alleged they discovered an elaborate hydroponic set-up with 224 plants being cultivated within the home’s bedrooms and a shed in the backyard.

A 49-year-old woman was arrested at the scene and taken to Quakers Hill Police Station where she is assisting Police with their inquiries.

The crop has an estimated potential street value of about $448,000.

Police wish to thank the local community for their assistance, and urge anyone with information about potential hydro houses, to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Kuring Gai Local Area Command

Woman charged after baby locked in car – Hornsby

Police from Kuring Gai Local Area Command have charged a woman after a child was found locked in a car in a Hornsby car park earlier this week.

Officers were called to the car park in Albert Street after an 11-month-old boy was found strapped in his baby seat in a locked Lexus RX 4WD about 12.45pm on Monday (1 February).

It will be alleged security guards were alerted to the child’s presence by his cries, and a check revealed the owner had parked about 10 minutes earlier and entered the shopping centre.

Police and security guards were unable to locate the child’s mother and were attempting to break into the vehicle when the 23-year-old woman returned about 1.15pm.

The child was treated at the scene for dehydration.

The woman, from Berowra, was charged at Hornsby Police Station later that day with leave child/young person in motor vehicle causing emotional distress.

The woman was issued with a Field Court Attendance Notice (FCAN) to appear in North Sydney Local Court on 17 March.