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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 9 Hansard (18 November) . . Page.. 2650 ..

MR CORBELL (continuing):

Since then, we have not heard anything further - indeed, it has been a year - and we are yet to see any action for improved traffic safety at the Ngunnawal Preschool site. Obviously, there is a 40-kilometre zone in place for the preschool, because it is part of a primary school site; but, with the increasing development in the western area of Ngunnawal, there is now a higher flow of traffic than there was 12 months ago. I think it is a justified claim that the association makes that the Government should be looking again at the provision of a pedestrian crossing at the preschool site on Wanganeen Avenue.

I certainly will be writing to the Minister about this issue and asking him to address it, but I thought it was appropriate to take the opportunity in the adjournment debate tonight to raise the issue, because it highlights again the difficulty with services in a new and growing area of our city. Frequently, these sorts of issues are not addressed at the time they should be addressed, which is when facilities are put in place; when new centres, new preschools, primary schools or child-care centres are opened. Instead, residents of new areas like Gungahlin feel that they are constantly playing catch-up to get the same level of services, even with very simple things like pedestrian crossings or children's crossings, which many other schools would have in place at the time they are opened. I urge the Government, particularly the Minister for Urban Services, to look at this issue more closely. I will be writing to him about it. I hope that the Government will see fit to improve traffic safety for small children and their families who cross Wanganeen Avenue to go to the Ngunnawal Preschool by putting in place a children's crossing on that part of the road.

MR HIRD (5.02): Mr Speaker, I rise to speak about a matter that I raised with the Minister for Urban Services, Brendan Smyth, concerning problems that certain aged citizens had at Ginninderra Gardens in respect of shelter from the elements when catching a bus. I have to report that it is bouquets, through the Minister, for Mr Guy Thurston, the executive director of ACTION, and his staff as some 170 aged citizens at Ginninderra Gardens will now enjoy having appropriate bus shelters on both sides of the road. It might not be a big deal to younger people within our community, but it is to the aged because of their frailty and the fact that they find it difficult to move around and the only way they can is by using public transport. Through Mr Thurston's good offices and the offices of the Minister, we will have two bus shelters, one on each side of the road. I compliment the Minister and Mr Thurston and give a large pat on the back to the officers and staff of ACTION.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

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