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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 13 Hansard (20 November) . . Page.. 3862 ..

MR CORBELL (continuing):

The government has also initiated a study to estimate the effect of changes in public transport fares and other costs of transport, such as parking costs, on the demand for public transport. This study of transport elasticities will assist government to set appropriate pricing strategies to achieve an optimum balance between private and public transport and to encourage environmentally friendly modes of travel. Again, this is important policy work which is long overdue.

A related initiative is the implementation of parking management strategies in Belconnen and Tuggeranong. Urban Services is also preparing a plan for parking in the Barton-Parkes area, in conjunction with the National Capital Authority. Whilst politically difficult, the government believes that the introduction of paid parking measures in Belconnen, Tuggeranong and Barton are an important element in the pricing signals they send about the costs of using your motor vehicle, and hopefully they will encourage the use of public transport. They will also assist the government to manage the demand for parking from commuters, shoppers, visitors and other users.

Another key initiative in the government's transport policy agenda is the public transport futures feasibility study. This study addresses the issues and opportunities around public transport for input into the sustainable transport plan. I recently announced that consultants Halliburton KBR have been appointed, and their consultation with key stakeholders is under way.

Transport planning must be considered in a strategic and ACT-wide context. For these reasons the sustainable transport plan is closely linked with the spatial plan being prepared by PALM. The consultation processes of the spatial plan have highlighted the importance of transport to the people of Canberra and illustrate the importance of transport in planning for Canberra's future. Without a doubt, the issues around transport consistently rate high as issues of concern in the government's consultations over strategic planning for our future.

As the sustainable transport plan proposes an integrated approach to travel demand management covering households, workplaces, visitor destinations, universities and schools, it will be effective when we are in a position to extend this approach across the ACT.

The government is supportive of the principle behind this motion, but we must first assess the potential for behaviour change in all these key areas before we can consider full-scale implementation. This work will be incorporated into the sustainable transport plan.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

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