NSW freight operators confront highway closure and toll reforms

The Livestock Bulk and Rural Carriers Association (LBRCA) warned that the closure of the Great Western Highway at Victoria Pass has forced freight operators to take longer detours, raising fuel costs, driver hours and reducing productivity for routes between Sydney, the Blue Mountains and Central Western New South Wales. The association urged the NSW government to expedite reopening works and invest in more resilient freight networks.

Separately, the NSW government announced a series of toll reforms, including reductions for motorists on several Sydney motorways and a heavy‑vehicle toll multiplier of 3.15 times the light‑vehicle rate. Industry bodies, such as Road Freight NSW, have called for clearer details on how the multiplier and upcoming heavy‑vehicle relief schemes will affect operators.

Both groups are pressing the state for certainty and support to maintain the viability of regional freight services.