Sydney’s pothole problem has reached crisis point, with a 7NEWS investigation revealing a massive blowout in tyre damage and wheel repairs across the city, leaving drivers and riders injured, frustrated and receiving next to nothing in compensation.
Gaping craters and smashed rims have become a common sight on Sydney roads, despite crews working to fill potholes as quickly as they can. On General Holmes Drive in Kyeemagh, workers scrape and fill potholes in an effort to keep up with demand.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Sydney’s pothole crisis leaves drivers injured and uncompensated
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The state government says it has filled over half a million potholes since coming to government, but angry Sydney drivers say it’s not enough.
Social media activist Mahmoud Ismail has been documenting Sydney’s pothole problem for years.
“We pay so much in taxes, and, you know, the least thing we want is roads that are drivable,” he said.
A Bankstown road was patched over after his latest video, but when Ismail claims when he returned less than a week later, the potholes were reforming.
“So, they’ve obviously done a dodgy job,” he said.
Gaping craters seen in Sydney. Credit: 7NEWS Damage from potholes has skyrocketed. Credit: 7NEWS The consequences can be severe. An overfilled pothole on Forest Road, Arncliffe, in 2020 left motorbike rider Gus with a permanent injury.
“Landed on my shoulder, was concussed, lost consciousness, was in hospital for the night, and now I have a permanent disability due to that,” he said.
His wife’s wheel was also damaged by a pothole on Canterbury Road.
“The road users are paying not only income tax, not only council tax, also registration for these roads to be maintained,” Gus said.
Across Sydney, tyre and wheel damage has blown out dramatically.
More than 4000 calls to the NRMA were recorded in the Cumberland Council area, with another 4000 in The Hills Shire. From Camden to Hornsby, a total of more than 41,000 jobs were logged, an increase of well over 3000 on the year before.
“For the last six, seven months, we start getting more business from crack rims, buckle rims,” Bankstown tyre centre owner Sam Barda said.
Damage to a tyre from a pothole on Canterbury Road. Credit: 7NEWS Tyre and wheel damage has blown out in the last year. Credit: 7NEWS NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury says demand for tow trucks can spike by as much as 300 per cent because the damage is often so severe it cannot be fixed on the side of the road.
Police had to post a pothole warning for Terrey Hills on Friday. The official intervention saw it repaired within hours.
Heavy population growth in Sydney’s west and south-west is putting most of the pressure on roads in those areas, and with winter and more rain just around the corner, conditions are expected to worsen without urgent repairs.
7NEWS can reveal the amount of compensation paid to drivers who have suffered pothole damage.
In the last financial year, 884 claims were made. But the number approved was seven. The total payout was just under $6000.
The state government says its public liability scheme only applies to state roads, not council roads.
If you see a pothole, you can leave a report on the Service NSW website or call the Transport Management Centre.