IPSWICH Mayor Paul Pisasale has called for the tolls on the Logan Motorway to be scrapped, saying they are unfair for businesses and residents who use the road.
Cr Pisasale said the scrapping of the Sunshine Motorway tolls in 1996 was a precedent for removing the charges.
He said families that travelled to and from Ipswich via Logan Motorway were being unfairly treated compared with their Sunshine Coast counterparts.
"It's not just a road residents use to go away on the weekends – for many people and businesses it is an important motorway," Cr Pisasale said.
"It was made a toll road at the same time as the Sunshine Motorway, but theirs has been taken off. I think everyone needs to be treated equally."
Cars leaving Ipswich heading east down the motorway face two tolls before reaching the Pacific Highway near Beenleigh – first at Heathwood (Stapylton) at $2.10 and again at Loganlea ($1.18).
For businesses or residents driving to the Gold Coast, that equates to a return trip of $6.56.
In March, Treasurer Andrew Fraser said the tolls would jump from July 1 – with Heathwood rising to $2.40 and Loganlea jumping to $1.46.
RACQ spokesman Joe Fitzgerald said his group feared more price rises would come once toll operator Queensland Motorways is sold by the State Government as part of its privatisation plans.
"We certainly would like to see the Logan Motorway tolls abolished, but it's just not realistic," he said.
"Mayor Pisasale's position is sensible. If Queensland Motorways falls into private hands, users will face ever-increasing tolls."
A spokesperson for the Treasurer said there were no plans to scrap the toll.
"The Government has already committed to legislating the maximum toll level on the Gateway and Logan Motorways."
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