Engadine commuters would be the hardest to be hit in Sydney’s south by proposed Opal card changes, an analysis has found.
Cronulla and Woolooware commuters would be least affected.
The NRMA’s analysis was included in its submission to the changes proposed by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).
The submission said the increase would hurt some families more than an interest rate rise of 0.25 per cent on a $400,000 mortgage, which would be $13 per week.
Under the IPART proposal, Engadine commuters would have to pay $25.74 more (67 per cent) on their weekly fare to the Sydney CBD by July 2018.
Other increases included:
- 44.5 per cent from Helensburgh.
- 40 per cent from Oatley, Mortdale, Padstow, Como, Caringbah, Jannali, Gymea, Loftus, Sutherland, Kirrawee and Miranda.
- 34 per cent from Arncliffe, Banksia, Bexley North, Kogarah, Kingsgrove, Carlton, Hurstville, Beverly Hills, Penshurst and Rockdale.
- 24 per cent from Heathcote, Waterfall.
- 15.48 per cent from Wolli Creek.
- 4.3 per cent from Cronulla and Woolooware.
IPART recommended the present system, where commuters pay only for their first eight trips in a week, be ditched and, instead, they pay for their ten most expensive journeys.
The changes were designed to stop people taking unnecessary short trips in order to qualify for free trips on longer journeys.
NRMA director for St George, Sutherland Shire and the Illawarra, Marisa Mastroianni said, if the changes were implemented, traffic in Sydney’s south would become even worse.
“Rather than steep hikes, we believe a long-term approach needs to be taken so the commuter doesn’t wear the price of making the system more cost effective,” she said.
“Modest annual increases over a longer period will be much fairer.”
Ms Mastroianni said IPART had also proposed raising the $2.50 senior’s Gold Opal daily fare limit to $3.60 in July and to $4 by July 2018.
“The NRMA is calling on the NSW Government to consider free off-peak fares for Gold Opal users,” she said.
“We learned from our older members at our Fit to Drive forums in Hurstville and Sutherland last year that they feel they’re not familiar with public transport.
“Let’s not make it any harder for them.”
Ms Mastroianni said the NRMA had also proposed fare refunds for avoidable delays and disruptions throughout the public transport network.
This initiative had proved effective in the UK, she said.
View the NRMA’s submission at: mynrma.com.au
What do you think of the proposed Opal card changes?