Page 2900 - Week 13 - Thursday, 23 November 1989
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Creating the maximum number of jobs in Gungahlin town centre was selected by 83 per cent of respondents as being the most effective measure [of addressing the Gungahlin travel task].
That is on page 139. Eighty-three per cent said it was the most effective measure. The same applies to Tuggeranong. This notion was reinforced yesterday by Professor Black of the University of New South Wales who was speaking at a luncheon that I was fortunate enough to be able to attend. The real solution to future transport and environment problems lies in sticking to decisions. No more office blocks in Civic; they belong in the town centres.
Transport ACT is timely. Overdevelopment of Civic has created a number of problems, and this paper attempts to address them. We are fortunate that it is not too late. By combining a strategy of this nature to resolve the previous planning errors with the resolve to get back to a system which is planning driven rather than speculation driven, we still have a chance to retain Canberra as a city to be emulated. We cannot fall prey to the current spurious arguments that we now need more office workers to support the section 38 Canberra centre development. At one time I was one of the objectors to that development before the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the ACT. Section 38 was supposedly needed then to support office workers in Civic. The argument has gone full circle and will follow the same circular path all over again if we allow it. The time has come to get off the roundabout.
So what has the transport strategy got right? Let me say that I applaud the sentiments. The methodology, however, in some places creates problems. The first chapter is called "Why a Strategy?". We need a strategy because of growing peak-hour traffic, air and noise pollution, parking problems and heavy demands on traffic management systems. The proposed solutions are more people on public transport, more passengers in cars, and more people walking and cycling to work. These are admirable aims, which are served best by having jobs near where people live, and this is the cheapest solution for the community.
This introductory chapter talks about the better use of valuable land. We are back to the old supply and demand problem. The land, thanks to our leasehold system - which the Liberals would do away with - is valuable to the whole community, and the whole community can do with it as it wishes.
Further on through the document we see comparative pricing between roads and public transport, a valid and important comparison. The third factor, the one that I have already concentrated on, is having jobs near where people live. That point has not been included. Remember, it is proven. In the 1986 census and statistics, there is a 75 per cent correlation in Woden and Belconnen between where people work and where they live. The system works.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .