News Service from House Harris

NSW: Harbour Bridge goes cashless on Sunday.

SYDNEY, Jan 10 AAP - The last motorist to place cash in the palm of a Sydney Harbour Bridge toll collector will cross the northern end of the bridge before 8am (AEDT) on Sunday, when all toll booths officially close.

At 4am history will be made at the southern end of the bridge, near the Cahill Expressway, when the booth at that end closes.

The booths will not be dismantled for at least another 12 to 18 months, an RTA spokeswoman told AAP, to allow for consultation with heritage experts.

The booths would be removed at a quiet time of year when traffic volumes were low, the spokeswoman said.

For Jude Singarayar, who has worked at the toll for more than 20 years, it will be strange to keep waking at 3.30am (AEDT), as he has done for several years, and realise he doesn't have to get up so early.

"It's the end of an era for sure," he said on Saturday.

The RTA says the 51 toll collectors have been given the option of taking voluntary redundancy or other positions with the RTA.

Public Service Association of NSW officer Evan Cole said many of its members felt aggrieved by the decision.

"Some people have been there (collecting cash) almost 30 years," he said.

"They haven't got a thank you yet from the RTA for a job well done.

"It's just sort of, `Oh we're kicking you out. You can stay or you can go. If you stay we don't know what we are going to give you in the long run'."

He said some of the workers would be offered work matching photographs of number plates of cars that crossed the bridge without an e-tag, so a bill could be sent to registered owners.

Mr Cole also expressed concern for the thousands of people who prefer to pay cash.

"Many motorists including regional visitors, elderly drivers, tourists, casual users and motorcyclists prefer to have a cash option on the bridge because an e-tag is simply not practical," he said in a statement on Saturday.

"The government has yet to bring in an e-tag option that is affordable and easy to use without ongoing fees and complications."

Security guards will patrol the booths at both ends of the bridge for at least the next week to minimise potential confusion from motorists unaware they can no longer pay cash, the RTA said.

A grace period over the next few weeks will apply for motorists who are unaware of the toll changes.

They will be forwarded a toll notice, the RTA said, and the usual $5 administration fee will be waived.

Motorists can pick up e-tags from one of the 127 RTA motor registries across the state.

They can also apply for a tag by calling 131 865, or by logging onto the RTA website at www.rta.nsw.gov.au.

AAP bc/jj