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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 2 Hansard (21 February) . . Page.. 506 ..

MS DUNDAS (continuing):

Whilst the Australian Democrats believe it is important for governments to always discuss with stakeholders the impact of their decisions, I do not believe the current motion is helpful in this regard. I will be meeting with the AIS to discuss the effect of any proposed road upon the Bruce precinct, and look forward to hearing their concerns. However, I believe this motion has been brought before this Assembly only in response to the federal minister for sport trying to scare the people of Canberra.

I would now like to quote from the submission put by the Institute of Sport and the Australian Sports Commission to the inquiry which took place during the last Assembly. In their introduction, they say there are fundamental gaps in their understanding of the impact of the western alignment and, hence, some assumptions have been made. They continue on to say that the western route will significantly impact on the existing AIS campus environment-and it appears that this may be a major assumption.

I have read the submission to the Standing Committee on Planning and Urban Services and talked to PALM about possibilities for the western alignment. I understand that many of their concerns could be completely and substantially addressed if any western alignment were to be built. If the government has not been maintaining communication with the AIS, then there is definitely merit in asking them to do so, as I believe there is scope for many of the fears of the AIS to be allayed.

The Democrats have previously stated their concerns about fragmentation of the Bruce precinct. We are seeking an assurance that any road would include pedestrian access across the precinct and retain the current cycle paths. I also note that an environmental impact statement is being prepared, which I am very keen to inspect. That will give us all a clearer picture of the problems raised by the AIS.

The ACT Democrats went to the previous election with a very clear policy opposing the eastern alignment of the Gungahlin Drive extension. I intend to stick to that commitment. The Democrats believe that, as a matter of extreme urgency, the eastern alignment of the Gungahlin Drive extension should be removed from the Territory Plan. The eastern alignment, which the opposition is pushing here today, would plough a road straight through O'Connor Ridge-an area of high amenity and physical attractiveness. To build a road on the eastern route would be the worst possible environmental outcome that this Assembly could produce.

The Democrats are committed to the idea of Canberra remaining the bush capital. We do not believe that building a road through great swathes of urban bushland is either environmentally sound or in keeping with the visions for the residents of the city of Canberra. The issue of the Gungahlin Drive extension has been inquired into, considered, reconsidered, and re-inquired into for over 10 years. Meanwhile, the residents of Gungahlin have seen nothing in the way of a coordinated transport policy for their town. They continue to have virtually non-existent public transport and are forced to sit in their cars in ever-increasing traffic congestion.

The Assembly cannot continue to delay decision-making about Canberra's transport future. It is time for an integrated, progressive and sustainable transport policy that ceases to decide issues on an ad hoc basis-that is, with a change here, an alteration there, a new road in one place, and tinkering with the bus system somewhere else.

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