Page 3574 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 22 November 2022
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Dear Mr Duncan
Thank you for your letter of 2 August 2022 regarding petition 18-22, requesting the reduction of the speed limit to 40km/h on Canberra Avenue between Barrallier Street, Griffith and Hume Circle (intersection of Canberra Avenue, Wentworth Avenue and Sturt Avenue, Griffith).
The ACT Government acknowledges that St Clare’s College and St Edmund’s College are located adjacent to Canberra Avenue and that some students walking and riding to school cross Canberra Avenue. Several streets surrounding St Clare’s College and St Edmund’s College are already currently designated as school zones, including parts of McMillan Crescent, Blaxland Crescent and Barrallier Streets.
Canberra Avenue is a busy arterial road that transports approximately 20,000 vehicles per day at an average speed of 60km/h. Over the past seven years, a total of 23 crashes were reported on this road section, three of which resulted in injury, and none involved pedestrians.
Given that Canberra Avenue is a main arterial route between Canberra and Queanbeyan, the current reduced speed limit of 60km/h is appropriate. Introducing a 40km/h speed limit on this road section is unlikely to be an effective measure without extensive traffic calming measures, which are incompatible with this road’s arterial function.
However, Transport Canberra and City Services will undertake an internal review of traffic movements in this area to inform consideration of other possible interventions, such as a controlled/signalised pedestrian crossing.
Motion to take note of petitions
MADAM SPEAKER: Pursuant to standing order 98A, I propose the question:
That the petitions and responses so lodged be noted.
Trees—Bradfield Street, Downer—petitions 20-22 and 36-22
MS LEE (Kurrajong—Leader of the Opposition) (10.07): I thank Robyn Sirr and the almost 600 petitioners who have signed this petition, objecting to the inappropriate planting of Canary Island pines at the front of the north-facing Bradfield Street apartments in Downer. According to the ACT Heritage Council’s ruling, these Canary Island pines must be planted to replace the Monterey pines.
There is no objection to having trees from these petitioners and Bradfield Street apartment residents. In fact, they would love to have more trees, as we try to negate the heat effects of urban infill and rising power prices, as well as being mindful of more solar heating opportunities in the face of climate change. The issue, they argue, is that more appropriate trees, such as deciduous or native varieties, should be used to enable more sunlight in the winter, when it is most needed for warmth and light. They question the practicality of imposing plantings and weighing decisions from a previous era, when we were facing a totally different set of circumstances and issues from those faced today.
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