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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 1 Hansard (12 December) . . Page.. 176 ..

MRS DUNNE (4.49): I would like to speak principally on the motion put by Ms Tucker and touch on some of the amendments. The motion put by Ms Tucker takes us back to about 1997 and one of many attempts to forestall the building of this road. I think it is time members in this place and the community at large came to the realisation that this road must be built.

The Gungahlin Drive extension is an important infrastructure project within the ACT. It is significant not just because it is a road but also because it will have definite impacts on the social and material wellbeing of the people of Gungahlin. One of the things people treasure about Canberra is the fact that you do not have to spend vast amounts of time commuting. The time you spend commuting is time you do not spend with your family, at your leisure activities or at your work. The time you spend commuting is for most people dead time. A lot of people move to Canberra to get away from commuting.

As someone who lives on the periphery of Gungahlin and uses the Barton Highway on a regular basis, I count my lucky stars that I do not have to get out of Gungahlin of a morning. During the campaign, when I was door knocking in places like Nicholls, the people in Ibis Street, Candlebark Close and Rosella Street said that they could not even get out of their own street, let alone get on to Gundaroo Drive. This has an important impact on people's lives. You spend so much more at the front end of your day just getting to where you need to go.

I acknowledge the point made by Ms Gallagher that people in Gungahlin need to use their cars if they are going to take more than themselves to work. If you going to take your kids to child care and drop somebody off at school and perhaps drop a spouse or a partner off on the way, you need your car. You cannot do it in Gungahlin or anywhere else on public transport. We must be realistic. The people who go to work from Gungahlin need a road system. This is a pressing need. This Assembly should think very carefully before it does anything that impacts on the timetable already given to the people of Gungahlin.

On that note, I would like to refer to the government's preferred western route. With the best intentions in the world, I cannot see that the minister can do all the things he promises he will do in the time available. We know about the best laid plans of mice and men-and we are talking planning here. You have to remember that the western route will have significant impacts on areas outside Gungahlin, particularly on people in Kaleen and on the AIS.

When I was doorknocking in places like Shannon Circuit, Pambula Street, Delegate Street and Skardon Street, the people of Kaleen said to me that they do not want the western route, because it comes right up to their back door. This is something that has not been taken on board by the government. You have not talked to the people out there, Simon. They do not want a road on their back doorstep.

In summary, we must build the road, and we must build it as soon as possible. We cannot afford the delays proposed in Ms Tucker's motion. That is why we on this side will be opposing the motion. We must ensure that the route is one that meets the needs of all people-people in Gungahlin and people in areas of Belconnen.

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