Is the F6 motorway a secret NRMA plan to boost car sales?

At end of February, in the midst of the state election campaign, I put out a media release criticising the NRMA's push to have the F6 motorway built through the Sutherland Shire.

I took issue with Michael Tynan, NRMA Deputy President, who argued that the planned upgrade of Port Botany left the NSW government no choice but to build the F6. The Greens have regularly raised concerns that the F6 would physically divide the Sutherland Shire and massively increase the traffic burden in the suburbs where the motorway would finish. A major boost to public transport is the only solution to traffic gridlock.

What I did not know at the time that I wrote that media release is that Mr Tynan is one of the biggest car dealers in the Sutherland area with six outlets at Kirawee, Miranda, Sylvania, Sutherland and Miranda.

I did check out Mr Tynan on the NRMA website. Funnily enough, there was not a word about his many car dealerships.

But the NRMA website does show that it has been a consistent voice for building the F6, with 42 entries promoting the development of the F6 motorway. In 2005 they organised a survey of travel times to the CBD to demonstrate the need for the F6.

So when you next hear the NRMA backing motorway construction, remember that you may not be hearing views of NRMA members but of a certain car dealer …