Sydneysiders will soon be able to beat city traffic jams by carpooling with Uber.

The ride-sharing app says with the city's population booming its new service, UberPOOL, will help get more people into fewer cars.

A recent Infrastructure Australia report estimates that as Sydney's population grows so will the number of hours commuters spend in traffic jams.

An audit by IA also found Sydney was home to seven of the top 10 most congested roads in Australia.

By 2046 commuters could spend 400,000 hours each day stuck in traffic queues due to the approximately 2.5 million extra car journeys being travelled, the independent body said in a report.

Uber Australia NZ general manager Henry Greenacre says UberPOOL will provide carpooling at the push of a button, which could help ease congestion and pollution.

"It means cheaper rides for passengers and less congestion on the city's streets over time," he said in a statement.

Uber claims the new app will match customers heading in similar directions, saving them up to 50 per cent on a regular UberX ride.

In-app walking directions will lead passengers to a pick-up point near them and direct to them to their final destination after they're dropped off close to it.

"UberPOOL makes it easy and affordable for people going in a similar direction to share the trip," Mr Greenacre said.

The carpooling service will launch in Sydney from April 3 with UberPOOL hoping to roll into capital cities across Australia throughout 2018.</s>16 hurt as hot air balloon crashes into tree in Australia

16 hurt as hot air balloon crashes into tree in Australia

16 people were injured in the crash

Sixteen people have been injured after a hot air balloon crashed into a tree, leaving some with broken bones and spinal injuries.

The balloon, carrying a pilot and 24 passengers, landed in a field in the Hunter Valley after hitting a eucalyptus tree.

The Health Department said 16 people were treated in hospital, and 12 of those were discharged.

Image: There were 24 passengers on board with the pilot

Police said the patients ranged in age from seven to 38.

Injuries included suspected spinal damage and broken bones, but none were life-threatening, according to an ambulance official.

Advertisement

Professional Ballooning Association of Australia spokesman Damian Crock said the circumstances of the crash would be investigated.

Image: Police were not called on the nation's emergency number

The balloon was operated by Balloon Safaris. The company has not yet commented.

According to ABC, police said the balloon had been removed by the time they arrived at the scene, and that emergency services had not been called after the crash.

Instead those hurt were reportedly taken to hospital on the company's bus.

Image: The patients were taken to hospital by the company's bus

Inspector Rob Post said he was not aware of any 000 call made.

Michael MacGregor, who was on board with his wife Alex, said it was "down-playing" the incident to call it a "heavy landing".

He said the pilot had told passengers "brace yourself" as they hit the top of a eucalyptus tree.

Image: The patients were taken to hospital by the company's bus

He said: "It was all over pretty quick to really worry about it. It was definitely a crash.

"When we hit the ground everyone was quiet and calm and people started to say they were hurt.

"They had to tilt the basket over for one little girl to get out. There were three little girls on board.

"We are happy to be OK."

Image: People on board started screaming, one passenger said

A early statement from the Hunter Valley Police read: "The balloon crashed about 8.30am today (Friday 30 March 2018) on McDonalds Road, near Broke Road, at Pokolbin.

"Nine people were taken to Cessnock Hospital. Two have since been taken to John Hunter Hospital for further treatment.

"Police from Hunter Valley Police District have commenced inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

"The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has been notified."</s>A hot air balloon landed heavily after hitting a tree north of Sydney today, injuring 16 people, officials said.

The balloon was carrying a pilot and 24 passengers when it landed in a field in Hunter Valley shortly after hitting the tree, Professional Ballooning Association of Australia spokesman Damian Crock said.

The health department said 16 passengers were treated at a hospital and at least 12 had been discharged late Friday.

Their injuries included suspected spinal damage and broken bones. None of the injuries was life-threatening, an ambulance official said.

Television reports showed branches strewn on the ground from a eucalyptus tree the balloon stuck and foliage still clinging to its basket after landing.

The circumstances of the landing will be examined by government crash investigators, Mr Crock said.

The balloon's operator, Balloon Safaris, did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

In January, four passengers were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries when a Balloon Safaris hot air balloon made a heavy landing in Hunter Valley.</s>As many as nine tourists were injured after a hot air balloon crashed into a gum tree Friday in Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia. Shockingly enough, emergency services weren't informed by the company. The cops have criticized the company for not informing the authorities about the accident and for removing the balloon from the site of the crash.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the balloon, operated by Balloon Safaris, came down in Pokolbin at about 8 am Friday. Following the accident, nine people were rushed to Cessnock Hospital. None of them had suffered anything massively life-threatening and the injuries ranged from suspected broken bones to spinal injuries.

Two of those injured have been taken to the John Hunter Hospital for specialized treatment. The police were contacted by Cessnock Hospital itself after the nine injured came in by private transport.

By the time the police reached the scene of the accident, the hot air balloon had been removed from the site of the crash. Inspector Rob Post, from Hunter Valley Police, criticized the company's protocol regarding cases of crashes, saying that he expected them to call triple-0.

"I think it would be common sense to make that call if you have injured people on the ground," he said.

He also said: "The balloon was gone by the time police had arrived so it wasn't actually on the scene." When asked whether the balloon should have remained where it had landed post the crash, he said: "Some would argue, yes."

He also added that the police weren't looking to lay any criminal charges against the company for the way they went about the crash, or for the lack of reporting it to emergency authorities.

Incidentally, as a forewarning to the 24 people flying in the particular hot air balloon, the company had just told them to "brace" themselves before the balloon was about to crash.

On board were locals, interstate, as well international tourists, aged between 7 to 38 years, all enjoying the 40-minute sunrise flight when the accident happened.

ABC News also reported that this is the company's second crash this year. Back in January, four people were taken to hospital after one of the balloons had a "rough landing" near Cessnock, which is also in Hunter Valley.</s>Nine injured in hot air balloon crash The West Australian

Nine people suffered serious injuries when a hot air balloon crashed in NSW's Hunter Valley</s>SYDNEY (AP) - A hot air balloon landed heavily after hitting a tree north of Sydney on Friday, injuring 11 people, officials said.

The balloon was carrying a pilot and 24 passengers when it landed in a field in Hunter Valley shortly after hitting the tree, Professional Ballooning Association of Australia spokesman Damian Crock said.

Ambulance Inspector Luke Wiseman said 11 of the passengers went to hospitals with injuries including suspected spinal damage and broken bones. None of the injuries was life-threatening, he said.

All the injured had been taken to hospital by car before an ambulance arrived at the crash scene, he said.

The circumstances of the heavy landing would be examined by government crash investigators, Crock said.

The balloon's operator Balloon Safaris did not immediately return The AP's phone call on Friday.

Four passengers were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries in January when a Balloon Safaris hot air balloon made a heavy landing in Hunter Valley.</s>16 people have gone to the hospital after a hot air balloon crashed in the Hunter Valley.</s>SYDNEY, Australia — A hot air balloon landed heavily north of Sydney on Friday, injuring nine people.

They were taken by ambulance to hospitals for treatment of suspected broken bones and spinal injuries, New South Wales Ambulance said in a statement.

No details of what caused the hard landing were immediately available.</s>Nine people have been taken to hospital as a hot air balloon has crashed in the Hunter Valley.</s>A hot air balloon crash has left nine people injured in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales.

The balloon, operated by Balloon Safaris, came down at about 8am, according to NSW Ambulance.

Nine people were rushed from the scene to Cessnock Hospital with injuries including spinal and broken bones.

Two of the injured were transferred to the John Hunter Hospital for further treatment.

The injuries were 'not life-threatening' and there were 'no fatalities', a NSW Ambulance spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.

The balloon came down at the corner of Macdonald Road and Broke Road in Pokolbin.

Balloon Safari director Michael Scaife said the company took three people to hospital as a precautionary measure with 'minor injuries'.

'Everyone climbed out of the balloon with no problems at all,' he said.

Police from Hunter Valley Police District have commenced inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has been notified.
A hot air balloon hits a tree near Sydney, Australia, wounding 16 people.