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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 3 Hansard (10 April) . . Page.. 861 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

This motion will put a bind on the Government. However, I think it is probably an important one because there is so much community disquiet about this particular issue. Let me assure the Government, particularly Mr Kaine, whose responsibility it would be, that the committee will move as quickly as it can to sort out this particular issue. If the time comes to proceed with the capital works and we still have not reported, then I would hope to persuade the committee at least to make a statement in the house so that you can proceed with that capital works. That should be a reasonable way through this particular issue. I think it is right to have it in the motion and to deal with the issue so that members of the community can feel that they are being appropriately listened to.

MS McRAE (12.04): Mr Speaker, we will be supporting the motion. May I just put on record that we are extremely disappointed that this issue is yet again before the Assembly. I cannot remember for how long the issue of the management of traffic around that area has been on the agenda. Through a litany of failures over the years this issue has not been dealt with. Like Mr Moore, I am very keen that the traffic lights issue be resolved. I can see a lot of merit in that interim solution, but the problem is that the community has now become so suspicious that even a sensible solution seems not to be attractive. I think it is important that those views be heard and be given an airing.

I in no way want to hold up what may seem to be very practical and good interim safety measures; but I think it is very important for the community to feel that their longer-term needs are being taken into account, particularly with the possibility of what is known as the LORA option, perhaps cutting out Ginninderra Drive altogether. That is one of the possibilities being looked at by Maunsell. It is very important to know whether that is a feasible option and whether it is going to be considered seriously. If it reduces the level of traffic to a much more manageable level, perhaps then the traffic lights will not be necessary.

Like Mr Moore, I think that in normal circumstances the committee would have gladly taken this on as a self-reference; but, given that the circumstances did not permit that, I think that this is an appropriate motion. I look forward to the discussion and hopefully to facilitating a speedy response. I think it is untenable that the people of Lyneham should have had to put up with such an unsatisfactory situation for such a long time.

MR CORBELL (12.05): I just want to rise and speak briefly on this issue, as I did attend the rally organised by the Lyneham and O'Connor Residents Association last Saturday. There was a considerable amount of community concern about the installation of traffic lights at the corner of Mouat and Brigalow streets in Lyneham, but there was broader concern about the whole issue of traffic management in the inner north. I think that is really what Ms Tucker is trying to address in her motion. I think it would be very valuable if that were addressed. Quite clearly, the issue of where traffic travels through to get to the city is becoming a major concern for inner north residents. At the moment there are not solutions in place to address the issue of traffic travelling from Gungahlin through to the city or traffic travelling from Belconnen along Ginninderra Drive into the city. For that reason, it is very important that this particular issue be addressed by the Planning and Environment Committee.

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