Businesses are being driven from Sydney, with mounting costs attributed to Sydney’s traffic snarl costing up to $20,000 per year according to the NRMA.
The NRMA Businesswise Survey polled 382 businesses in the Sydney region, finding that almost half (42 percent) have incurred costs as high as $10,000 as a result of congestion, 8 percent lost between $10,000 and $20,000, with an additional one quarter of businesses incurring costs to $5,000.
82 percent of the NRMA Businesswise members polled believed that congestion was worse than 12 months ago, consistent with the last survey conducted in 2007 which found 80 percent agreed with the statement.
Businesses have reacted to the increase in congestion with 60 percent changing shift times to allow staff the opportunity to start and finish outside peak traffic periods. This isn’t a wholly suitable option for all, with some 10 percent of bosses moving their company’s outside the Sydney CBD due to congestion.
“From the F6 to the F3 and everywhere between there are countless examples of congestion causing massive delays and the State’s engine room – small businesses – are wearing the cost,” NRMA President Wendy Machin says.
“Our BusinessWise members have made it clear that traffic congestion isn’t just an inconvenience, it is a major cost that is having a dramatic affect on business productivity.” Machin says.
“Few people believe the Government’s current plan to tackle congestion will work so both parties can go a long way to securing victory by showing they have real solutions to one of the State’s biggest problems,” Machin says.
The New South Wales Business Chamber’s Paul Ritchie has urged Government to encourage people to travel different times of the day, as well as move Government offices away from the Sydney CBD on ABC radio this morning.
“According to the RTA, 20 per cent of peak travel is related to parents taking their children to school,” he said.
“So how can we create some incentives in terms of different starting times for schools?”
