RTA gets the axe!!! Good or Bad??
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 2:22 pm
The NSW government will abolish a number of transport agencies, including the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA).
Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian on Friday made the announcement, which also affects the Transport Construction Authority and Country Rail Infrastructure Authority.
In their place will be a new authority to be called Transport for NSW, which will cover all modes of travel, including roads.
"This is the biggest structural change to NSW transport in 16 years," Ms Berejiklian told reporters in Sydney.
Ms Berejiklian, who made the announcement with Roads Minister Duncan Gay, said NSW Maritime will also be absorbed into the new body.
Transport for NSW will be responsible for the co-ordinated delivery of transport services across all modes of travel, with a focus on the customer, Ms Berejiklian said.
"This is about making life easier for the customer," she said.
The merging of agencies into one will see 350 positions go, amounting to about 100 job losses, she said.
"Most of them were duplicating work," she said.
Legislation authorising the new agency will be introduced at the next session of parliament, but Ms Berejiklian said the government still had planning to do.
"We will start the master planning process as soon as we can," she said.
"We don't envisage it will happen by the end of the year."
Mr Gay also noted that the RTA and Maritime Australia would be merged into a single body, under the command of Transport for NSW.
He said the integration of the two agencies was a step toward having a one stop shop for government services.
"This is a major day. It is fulfilling a promise made by Labor in 1995," Mr Gay said.
"Weeks ago I indicated that the RTA would not be the same after this process.
"The RTA as we know it will no longer exist."
The new transport body will oversee customer experience, planning and programs, transport services, projects, freight and regional development and policy and regulation.
There will be six deputy director general positions within the agency, which have yet to be filled.
Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian on Friday made the announcement, which also affects the Transport Construction Authority and Country Rail Infrastructure Authority.
In their place will be a new authority to be called Transport for NSW, which will cover all modes of travel, including roads.
"This is the biggest structural change to NSW transport in 16 years," Ms Berejiklian told reporters in Sydney.
Ms Berejiklian, who made the announcement with Roads Minister Duncan Gay, said NSW Maritime will also be absorbed into the new body.
Transport for NSW will be responsible for the co-ordinated delivery of transport services across all modes of travel, with a focus on the customer, Ms Berejiklian said.
"This is about making life easier for the customer," she said.
The merging of agencies into one will see 350 positions go, amounting to about 100 job losses, she said.
"Most of them were duplicating work," she said.
Legislation authorising the new agency will be introduced at the next session of parliament, but Ms Berejiklian said the government still had planning to do.
"We will start the master planning process as soon as we can," she said.
"We don't envisage it will happen by the end of the year."
Mr Gay also noted that the RTA and Maritime Australia would be merged into a single body, under the command of Transport for NSW.
He said the integration of the two agencies was a step toward having a one stop shop for government services.
"This is a major day. It is fulfilling a promise made by Labor in 1995," Mr Gay said.
"Weeks ago I indicated that the RTA would not be the same after this process.
"The RTA as we know it will no longer exist."
The new transport body will oversee customer experience, planning and programs, transport services, projects, freight and regional development and policy and regulation.
There will be six deputy director general positions within the agency, which have yet to be filled.