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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 3 Hansard (10 April) . . Page.. 860 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

The findings of the Maunsell study into the route and timing of the John Dedman Parkway could also have significant impacts on future traffic levels on Mouat Street, which need to be addressed in determining the nature of the roadworks that might be required on Mouat Street. We have often said that there is a need for an integrated transport strategy for North Canberra that not only keeps cars out of residential areas but also reduces the overall number of cars on the road. We would want to look at the range of available options for reducing traffic levels on Mouat Street - options such as improved public transport services in Gungahlin and North Canberra - rather than just support an extension of Ginninderra Drive by itself as the solution.

We do not want the situation developing where all we are doing with these various roadworks is moving traffic jams from one part of North Canberra to another. In this regard, I particularly note the concerns of Downer residents that an extension of Ginninderra Drive will just direct the traffic from Ginninderra Drive closer to Downer residents. If the Planning and Environment Committee examines all these issues, hopefully it can come up with an integrated approach to addressing the increasing traffic flows through North Canberra. I am also aware that the Planning and Environment Committee has already been monitoring the Mouat Street issue and has had briefings from officials on this matter, so it should not increase their workload to any great extent to include this matter in the John Dedman Parkway inquiry.

The second part of my motion is a necessary consequence of the first part. It would be pointless for the Planning and Environment Committee to undertake an examination of the Mouat Street issue if the Government soon proceeds with the installation of traffic lights at the corner of Mouat and Brigalow streets, Lyneham, or other associated roadworks on Mouat Street. It would be a waste of government resources to put in traffic lights now, and then decide later that some other traffic management approach on Mouat Street would be more desirable.

MR MOORE (12.01): Mr Speaker, I think the committee will be very comfortable about taking on this inquiry. In fact, it is my belief that we would have taken on the inquiry without this motion coming to the Assembly. We already have the inquiry. We just have not been in a position to meet in order to thrash out the terms of reference. This motion is quite welcome. There is an important element to this motion. The motion reads:

... the Government not proceed with the installation of traffic lights at the corner of Mouat and Brigalow Streets, Lyneham, or other associated roadworks on Mouat Street until the Standing Committee has reported on its Inquiry ...

In a sense, that issue has actually been before the committee, in that the capital works have been approved. One thing that the committee has not taken to doing is putting a timing on capital works. We have tried to leave that to government. We make recommendations. All the recommendations of the committee on the capital works program were accepted by the Chief Minister in her response yesterday or the day before.

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