Page 157 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 9 February 2022
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MS CASTLEY: Minister, will you be waiting for more federal funding before you act on other dangerous intersections and widespread potholes on Canberra’s roads?
MR STEEL: No. In fact, we have a big program of investment in intersection upgrades around the territory. We have the recently completed intersection on Kuringa Drive. Feasibility has been underway at Hume Circle, to improve that one, which has often been in the top 10 worst intersections in Canberra. We put forward at the election a range of different intersections that we said, on the Labor side, we wanted to see upgraded in this term of government, and we will get on and deliver those. But from those opposite, there has been complete radio silence; no commitments, and they cannot deliver.
Roads—Gungahlin
MS CASTLEY: My question is to the minister for transport. In 2019 then TCCS traffic engineer David Kim stated, “We’re currently working on the design studies to develop a few options for improving the line of sight at the intersection of Gungahlin Place and Efkarpidis Street.” Last year, in your response to my question on notice, you said, “A consultant has been appointed to identify improvements at the intersection.” How much did your government spend on the design studies and how much have you spent on the consultant?
MR STEEL: That is a very specific question, Madam Speaker. I am happy to take that question. What I can say in relation to this intersection is that the government is considering what the outcomes of that consultant’s report are around further improvements to that particular intersection in relation to safety. Some minor changes have already been made to improve lines of sight at the intersection and we will look at the further more substantial upgrades that have been recommended through the consultancy.
In addition to that, in the last budget we also committed funding for feasibility for further improvements around Gungahlin town centre with regard to traffic. I know that my colleague Suzanne Orr has been consulting with the community widely about some of those intersections as well. We are looking forward to the community feedback feeding into future upgrades not only at that intersection but also other intersections to improve pedestrian safety, in particular to make sure that we have improved active travel connections through the town centre as well as making sure that vehicles can continue to access the growing town centre of Gungahlin.
MS CASTLEY: Minister, why has your government hired a consultant to advise on the intersection two years after the design studies were complete?
MR STEEL: The community have said that they want us to look at further work on the intersection, so we are looking at what can be done to further improve that. We are undertaking feasibility work across all the roads in Gungahlin. Traffic modelling will be occurring as well to make sure that, as the town centre grows, we can ensure that the traffic network is providing a good level of service for Gungahlin residents.
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