Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 4 Hansard (21 April) . . Page.. 1051 ..

MR SMYTH (continuing):

In that letter, Mr Speaker, I made the suggestion that all the submissions should be made available to the Urban Services Committee when the draft variation is considered, and they should consider calling before the committee the people who have done that work or have made that effort in order to hear their views again. I would expect that the standing committee would request many of the details on the issues that are contained in Ms Tucker's original motion and in Mr Corbell's amendment.

Mr Speaker, many things are happening. The Government is aware of its obligations and it is working towards providing the infrastructure that the people of Canberra deserve. For instance, the third stage of the future public transport option study was originally envisaged as an implementation stage. The stage two work determined that the most appropriate implementation approach was progressive enhancement of bus-based systems. This work has been under way, with bus enhancement work being included in the capital works program over the last five years. The most recent of these, for example, has been the upgrade of the Heydon Drive and Belconnen Way intersection, which was specifically improved to assist with bus travel times.

Things like the integration of the intertown public transport routes are also continuing. That study, managed by Totalcare for Infrastructure Management, on the Belconnen intertown public transport route, is almost complete. So we are doing this work, Mr Speaker, and we are getting on with the job. The Government has also progressed the planning implementation of the Gungahlin Town Centre, ahead of market demand, specifically to encourage the growth of local employment opportunities. We are doing this work, Mr Speaker. For example, the development of the centre includes, at government insistence, second-floor commercial space which would not otherwise have been provided. At the same time the Government remains committed to fostering a vital and vibrant Civic as a focus for the whole of the metropolitan area.

Mr Speaker, planning of Gungahlin and its connection to the rest of the city includes completion of the Eastern Parkway by the extension of the Monaro Highway - I think we all know it otherwise as Majura Parkway - and that will connect to Horse Park Drive at the Federal Highway. That planning has been included in the upgrade to the Federal Highway. Horse Park Drive will ultimately connect through Gungahlin via Gungahlin Drive, Gundaroo Drive and Clarrie Hermes Drive to the Barton Highway, and we are aware of that infrastructure as well. But these roads, Mr Speaker, are no substitute for the extension of Gungahlin Drive. The Majura Parkway will be required in addition to the Gungahlin Drive extension and it cannot be considered as an alternative to it.

The Government is committed to the integration of land use and transport planning as the most efficient and environmentally friendly approach to the development of the city. A good example of this is the proposal for more intense urban development in some parts of inner-North Canberra, which would support the Northbourne Avenue public transport spine as well as encourage walking and cycling to Civic as a place of work.

It is also proposed that a further discussion paper on the progress of the integrated land use and transport planning will be released shortly, and this will have in it a draft strategy.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .