Another Brisbane Tunnel Goes Bankrupt

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by csv8

Maybe the Police Service should change its name to Revenue Raising Service ??

Well...that would be unfair to front line coppers who nab real criminals and snapperheads who live only to cause trouble in entertainment districts on weekends.

Incidentally, Western Australia has recently reverted the name of it's 'Police Service' to 'Police Force' after many years...I think they're onto something there...

[csv8]

Road Warrior..true, split the service into Police Force for dealing with crims and the Revenue Raising Service for those who operate speed cameras??

[Full Noise]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Any new road system that requires 16 speed cameras must be very dangerous indeed,
surely, the government would be obligated to either close it down or forced to modify it to
make it safe enough to remove all those cameras. people should insist on this happening.

In the meantime I like a lot of other drivers will be avoiding them, this is the best way
to send a message to bureaucrats that see motorists as cash cows to be toyed with.

I agree 100% with this post. I couldn’t care less if every single toll road in the country went broke. Hopefully it will send a very clear message to the greedy mongrels who get into bed with the govco when stitching up Joe public with sham deals like this.

Roads should be built by the government and stay in public hands, simple as that. I also avoid toll roads when possible, especially ones littered with speed cameras. Stuff ‘em.

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by flappist

I do not care.

I will not use tunnels that have lots of speed cameras purely out of principle unless I absolutely have to and if so will travel at 30 or more km/h below the speed limit "for safety"......

I do exactly the same if I am forced to drive anywhere in Victoria, again, "for safety".

After all, any place that has lots of speed cameras MUST be a very dangerous place.......

Never heard so much Rot, can understand to be under speed limit slightly to avoid speed fines but morons driving 30 Kph or more under-speed are the ones who frustrate other motorists which can lead to accidents.

[Full Noise]

Originally Posted by trublu

Never heard so much Rot, can understand to be under speed limit slightly to avoid speed fines but morons driving 30 Kph or more under-speed are the ones who frustrate other motorists which can lead to accidents.

I hate to state the bleeding obvious, but I’m pretty sure that Flappist was taking the “urine” with the comment.

[jamies]

Tolls,tunnels are revenue raising at its best look at the old gate way toll I think the toll paid for the bridge a few times over.

[Peuty]

Of course it's revenue raising, Tolls by name, Tolls by nature.

No one is forcing anyone to use these toll roads. I don't understand what the fuss is about.

[jamies]

Originally Posted by Peuty

Of course it's revenue raising, Tolls by name, Tolls by nature.

No one is forcing anyone to use these toll roads. I don't understand what the fuss is about.

I have no probs paying $6.00 to make driving a whole lot less stressfull.
Driving to the sunshine coast avoiding tolls ha ha no thanks.

[xxx000]

Originally Posted by Peuty

Of course it's revenue raising, Tolls by name, Tolls by nature.

No one is forcing anyone to use these toll roads. I don't understand what the fuss is about.

Nor do I

it seems a popular label with negative connotations like the term 'nanny state' has recently become so people use it w/out much thought

I blame the Daily Telegraph

[DJR-351]

Only been in SE Qld for 5 years and never had a reason to travel further south than Bris Airport.....so never had to pay a toll......

[Peuty]

Originally Posted by Angeldust

....How did we build all our infastructure in the 50 year period between 1940's-1990's? It saeems today we have to scrape for every metre of road/tunnel/bridge, yet the taxes payed would be at a record level due to the increase in population. The majority of our roadways, infustructure, dams, railways was all built 50 years ago... how did we afford it then?

Tolls.

This is just in Brisbane and what I can think of from the top of my head, but the Story Bridge in Brisbane had tolls when it was first opened and so too did the old Hornibrook Bridge in Redcliffe (I'm talking about the old old one).

Tolls aren't a new thing.

[aussie muscle]

Originally Posted by Peuty

I've said it before and I'll say it again - there is no risk driving though these tunnels! You know the bloody cameras are there, keep it at 80!

There's a problem right there. You're paying a premium to use the road, but have to go the same speed as the toll dodgers. Maybe if they had more reasonable limits (especially out of the tunnels) more people might see the benefit in using them?

so is it bad road (tolls) or bad management that have caused the company to declare bankrupt?

[flappist]

Originally Posted by Peuty

Of course it's revenue raising, Tolls by name, Tolls by nature.

No one is forcing anyone to use these toll roads. I don't understand what the fuss is about.

Ummm, the fuss is that people aren't using the roads therefore not paying tolls leading to the tunnel operator being forced into administration.

It is easily fixed. A SEQ tunnel rego levy where anyone who lives within 200km of Brisbane pays an extra $100 per year, per vehicle registration to pay for the tunnels.
In addition all speed camera fines below 20km/h over any limit and those issued in any 10 minute period after a limit is lowered would go to pay for the tunnel as well completely bypassing the state government so would no longer be a revenue stream.

Or how about just add $100 to every Energex bill so those who benefit the most from them pay for them.

The tunnels would then be free and used by many for the good of all in Brisbane.

[jamies]

Originally Posted by flappist

Ummm, the fuss is that people aren't using the roads therefore not paying tolls leading to the tunnel operator being forced into administration.

It is easily fixed. A SEQ tunnel rego levy where anyone who lives within 200km of Brisbane pays an extra $100 per year, per vehicle registration to pay for the tunnels.

If this ever happened I know for one I wouldn't be happy, I only go past Coomera A handful of times a year so why would people such as myself want to pay an extra $100 on top of car rego as a Tunnel levy ? Qld rego's are ridiculous as it is. Brisbane's rubbish to drive around at the best of times.. and Flappist you said "Why put a small hole in one big hole..'' Obviosuly you don't like the Goldcoast. But there are no tolls here and its hard waking up 5 minutes from Burleigh beach every morning... Yep love it.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by jamies

If this ever happened I know for one I wouldn't be happy, I only go past Coomera A handful of times a year so why would people such as myself want to pay an extra $100 on top of car rego as a Tunnel levy ? Qld rego's are ridiculous as it is. Brisbane's rubbish to drive around at the best of times.. and Flappist you said "Why put a small hole in one big hole..'' Obviosuly you don't like the Goldcoast. But there are no tolls here and its hard waking up 5 minutes from Burleigh beach every morning... Yep love it.

Well I am not so sure that there are no trolls there particularly ones rather thin skins and no sense of humour it appears.

Apart from that, what is your explanation as to why when you leave GC going to any other part of QLD you have to go up hill..........

[jamies]

My 10 speed repco bike with ford badges takes to long to ride to Bris.
Plus I can't afford the tolls as peanuts and monopoly money isn't legal tender in Qld.

[GREGL]

Originally Posted by flappist

Ummm, the fuss is that people aren't using the roads therefore not paying tolls leading to the tunnel operator being forced into administration.

It is easily fixed. A SEQ tunnel rego levy where anyone who lives within 200km of Brisbane pays an extra $100 per year, per vehicle registration to pay for the tunnels.
In addition all speed camera fines below 20km/h over any limit and those issued in any 10 minute period after a limit is lowered would go to pay for the tunnel as well completely bypassing the state government so would no longer be a revenue stream.

Or how about just add $100 to every Energex bill so those who benefit the most from them pay for them.

The tunnels would then be free and used by many for the good of all in Brisbane.

Flappist , you are wasting your talents here on Ford Forums
A consultancy to Gov. is your hidden forte. Get in contact with your nearest lobbyist A.S.A.P . $1500 bucks an hour , 1 hour a day laughing . They might even offer you a DGs position and then you could give em all the finger while driving through the speed cameras and tell em your chauffer did it !

[flappist]

Originally Posted by GREGL

Flappist , you are wasting your talents here on Ford Forums
A consultancy to Gov. is your hidden forte. Get in contact with your nearest lobbyist A.S.A.P . $1500 bucks an hour , 1 hour a day laughing . They might even offer you a DGs position and then you could give em all the finger while driving through the speed cameras and tell em your chauffer did it !

Why would I consider a salary cut.......

[monte.b]

Originally Posted by Peuty

Tolls.

This is just in Brisbane and what I can think of from the top of my head, but the Story Bridge in Brisbane had tolls when it was first opened and so too did the old Hornibrook Bridge in Redcliffe (I'm talking about the old old one).

Tolls aren't a new thing.

Geez you are showing your age now mate ,I cant even recall the story bridge having tolls but im thinking you are right about the Redcliff one ,Hornibrock was the construction company that built it and put the money up to build it . As far as the gold coast goes the ASRF are having their nationals at parklands at easter ,how are the rods going to get anywhere with the roads gridlocked has got me beat ,they need some tunnels there for sure ,then again they have just solved the traffic problems by putting a light rail down the middle of the road so i guess it will be like Brisbane years ago when they had the trams ,every time the train stops to let people off the traffic stops ,that will fix the traffic flow ,NOT

[GREGL]

Originally Posted by flappist

Why would I consider a salary cut.......

Forgot about the downsides , P.C , B.N etc nah your right .

[2011G6E]

One of the biggest issues with bloody toll roads is that they assume everyone who uses them lives in the capital city they are located in...

We were going down to the Gold Coast for the big hot rod do last year, we found ourselves on the toll motorway across the Gateway bridge. I was following the son-in-law and our daughter, and suddenly realised that we couldn't pay the toll because, in their infinite wisdom, they ignored the fact that people live outside Brisbane. There's no option for actual physical money either..."simply buy a pass"...yeah...well where the hell do I do that you morons? We live in the country where the roads are badly funded and neglected so don't need tolls...not a lot gets spent on them...

Anyway, we got a notice a couple of weeks later, saying we owed the toll plus a fine if we didn't pay it within a certain time period. The letter arrived after the time period, and when I rang the number to pay it, the woman couldn't believe the letter had taken so long to arrive...she almost sounded amazed that anyone would bother to live outside Brisbane..."You're where?", as if 170km inland from Rockhampton was the dark side of the Moon...

There is a list online of the service stations outside Brisbane where you can buy the electronic pass things (which have a whole other lot of problems you have to watch out for, such as not letting it automatically "top itself up" from your bank account), but the one listed nearest us...I think the roadhouse on the highway down at Mount Larcom...had no idea what we were talking about when we enquired about buying one.

Toll roads are a disaster and completely unnecessary when you consider the taxes and charges we pay through rego and fuel and fines. They're more bother than they're worth, the public knows they're being ripped off and refuse to use them, and people have a healthy disrespect for lying politicians who claim "someone has to pay for the roads" (yes...we do already...), and we feel we pay enough for the privelage of driving already.

[csv8]

The biggest problem is they give you 3 days to pay !!!! most accounts are 7 days plus.
So, if you are travelling, you get the account after you get home and way past the 3 days.
You get the toll and a fine plus charges etc !!!!!!!!!
I have an etoll tag..which I take to Briz...but still get charged $25 a quarter for "maintenance" !!!! these tunnels are a rip off..

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by csv8

The biggest problem is they give you 3 days to pay !!!! most accounts are 7 days plus.
So, if you are travelling, you get the account after you get home and way past the 3 days.
You get the toll and a fine plus charges etc !!!!!!!!!
I have an etoll tag..which I take to Briz...but still get charged $25 a quarter for "maintenance" !!!! these tunnels are a rip off..

I remember it was a ridiculously short period of time to pay it...a week or less does sound about right. My notice didn't turn up until two weeks later...my son-in-law said at the time we drove over the bridge "Don't worry, you just get a notice and you pay it then, it's no big deal". Well...it's not in Brisbane. After much talking and speaking to supervisors, I managed to convince them that human civilisation doesn't end at Noosa and humans do exist in isolated settlements in the wastelands beyond and only had to pay the toll amount...

Guys I work with here who have the electronic tags were full of reassuring advice if I did want to buy one, as I said, making damn sure it doesn't automatically top it up from your bank account all the time as it runs out (even if you aren't using it), and if you don't live in Brisbane, attempt to pay for it while you are down there visiting, and not wait for the notice.

[jpd80]

My beef is not about the tolls, I believe we need to pay for good roads, what I do object to is the government
falsely claiming that SPEED CAMERAS are for ROAD SAFETY when they are clearly positioned for REVENUE.

The failure of both tunnels falls squarely on the shoulders of government and the bureaucrat who thought
that selling the debts for the tunnels to toll operators and then putting 16 speed cameras there
was good business...that person should be shown the door.

[monte.b]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

One of the biggest issues with bloody toll roads is that they assume everyone who uses them lives in the capital city they are located in...

We were going down to the Gold Coast for the big hot rod do last year, we found ourselves on the toll motorway across the Gateway bridge. I was following the son-in-law and our daughter, and suddenly realised that we couldn't pay the toll because, in their infinite wisdom, they ignored the fact that people live outside Brisbane. There's no option for actual physical money either..."simply buy a pass"...yeah...well where the hell do I do that you morons? We live in the country where the roads are badly funded and neglected so don't need tolls...not a lot gets spent on them...

Anyway, we got a notice a couple of weeks later, saying we owed the toll plus a fine if we didn't pay it within a certain time period. The letter arrived after the time period, and when I rang the number to pay it, the woman couldn't believe the letter had taken so long to arrive...she almost sounded amazed that anyone would bother to live outside Brisbane..."You're where?", as if 170km inland from Rockhampton was the dark side of the Moon...

There is a list online of the service stations outside Brisbane where you can buy the electronic pass things (which have a whole other lot of problems you have to watch out for, such as not letting it automatically "top itself up" from your bank account), but the one listed nearest us...I think the roadhouse on the highway down at Mount Larcom...had no idea what we were talking about when we enquired about buying one.

Toll roads are a disaster and completely unnecessary when you consider the taxes and charges we pay through rego and fuel and fines. They're more bother than they're worth, the public knows they're being ripped off and refuse to use them, and people have a healthy disrespect for lying politicians who claim "someone has to pay for the roads" (yes...we do already...), and we feel we pay enough for the privelage of driving already.

When we head down to the gold coast we get a ticket from our local matilda servo ,its about $7 return across the gateway ,you can get them for any toll road in QLD ,prepaid ,no drama

[Peuty]

Not to mention the plethora of clearly marked signs stating the phone number to call and the time frame to pay the toll.

Just can't please everyone it seems.

[GREGL]

On our first trip to Melb. maybe 12 yrs ago we wanted to see the Great Ocean Rd so hired a car pickup at airport and return . From memory at the time of booking you were warned that certain roads would incur a toll while travelling around Melb. So we did some research and worked out how to avoid em' . As most of the MAJOR routes through Brisbane have been tolled for years it only takes a bit of a search to find out when your about to get hit or how to avoid them .

One thing I miss about the old toll booths on the Gateway was the psuedo drag strip northbound (uphill) where you could give it straight out of the gates so to speak . $1.80 for redline adreline yoo hoo .