Internal RTA reports highlighted the financial implication of road changes in Woolloomooloo. The RTA estimated that the DoP requirement to re-open one of the right-hand turn lanes from Cowper Wharf Roadway would lose the CCT 10,000 vehicles a day and $22 million in revenue. The agreement to increase the annual escalation of the toll (from CPI indexation to 4 per cent till 2012 and 3 per cent till 2018) was to compensate CCM for a number of changes. Twenty-two million dollars of that compensation was for the re-opening of one Cowper Wharf Roadway right-turn lane.
We found no evidence that the decisions about blocking William Street traffic from conveniently accessing the Harbour crossings were made to protect the tunnel revenue. However, as with the change to Cowper Wharf Roadway, those decisions could not be reversed without endangering the upfront payment to the RTA. That is why we conclude that protecting the financial viability of the project meant that the road changes could not be reversed.
[Access - Exhibit 4.6: Woolloomooloo before and after the CCT - PDF]