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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 10 Hansard (28 August) . . Page.. 3399 ..

MR RUGENDYKE (continuing):

More than two years ago the issue entered the urban services committee for consideration. The clear-cut need for the Gungahlin Drive extension was the only fixed position that I took into that process. The case for no road was not an option. But I certainly was open as to which direction the final route should take.

A range of issues and views had to be taken into consideration. These were put on the table in an extremely thorough and extensive inquiry over the past two years. The most vocal contributor to that inquiry was the Save the Ridge group. But this was not the only issue. The western option stands to have increased adverse impacts on Kaleen residents and the Kaleen temperate grasslands.

We have seen echidnas in the O'Connor/Bruce Ridge vicinity recently as the latest reason from the no-road camp to abandon the proposal. I have to place on the record that I in fact discovered a legless lizard in the Kaleen grasslands when the committee inspected the site. Now apparently the echidnas are endangered and, as we know, legless lizards are everywhere.

Mr Hargreaves: Did you stomp on it? Was it alive or was it dead?

MR RUGENDYKE: I picked it up and gave it to the Parks and Gardens person.

Mr Hargreaves: It was already dead though, wasn't it?

MR RUGENDYKE: Yes, it was dead.

Mr Hargreaves: It was put there.

MR RUGENDYKE: The fact remains that those things are everywhere. The place is infested with them. Then there are the potential impacts on the sporting and educational facilities in Bruce from the western route. Further south, in Aranda, either route will have potential impacts.

Gungahlin residents made a compelling call for the road, just as Kaleen residents had totally valid concerns about the western route. Aranda residents provided compelling reasons about the proposal, which is why the Planning and Urban Services Committee recommended:

I understand that the consultation study for road options south of Belconnen Way is scheduled and preliminary work is under way. An investigation of the suggestions put forward by the committee is part of that process. Whatever the outcome of this debate, I certainly stand by the committee recommendation to ensure the identified concerns of Aranda residents are addressed in an appropriate manner.

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