Page 568 - Week 02 - Thursday, 9 March 2006
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
to West Row and Moore Street. The aim of the project is to strengthen the link between the east and west sides of the city by providing a high quality road reserve that is dominated by pedestrian movement. Works include a widened pavement for pedestrians, new street furniture, lighting and artwork. Stage 2 of this project will see similar development of Alinga Street through to Marcus Clarke Street, with an eventual link to the ANU precinct via the current Childers Street redevelopment.
An upgrade of the public areas at the Holt shopping centre has recently been completed. The aim of these works is to make the shops fully accessible from the public space, to address concerns about public safety and create awareness of the shops from the adjacent arterial road. The public areas are now appropriately lit. New signage, access ramps and public artwork all help to create a more functional and lively public space. An important water-sensitive urban design initiative has been implemented within the car park and adjacent pedestrian areas at the Holt shopping centre. Stormwater run-off is being captured via water permeable paving units in the car park. The paving allows rapid water penetration into the underlying soil to promote growth in trees. Boral Industries has partnered with the ACT government to implement this demonstration of water-sensitive urban design.
All fire-affected suburbs have had municipal assets replaced including playgrounds, street signs, regulatory and warning signs, guard rails, guideposts, log barriers and bollards, bridges and line marking. Land management agencies have also been working together to reduce the occurrence and impact of future bushfires by carrying out an extensive fuel hazard reduction program throughout the ACT over the last 12 months. The hazard reduction work has been conducted in identified priority areas and has involved techniques such as controlled burning, slashing, mowing, physical removal and grazing in order to help reduce fire intensity and provide better opportunities to contain fire. As well as reducing the fire hazards, these works have improved the appearance of these areas.
The restoration of Yarralumla Creek commenced last year with the removal of pest willows and poplars and the revegetation of the creek using 18,000 native plants. Over the last 12 months the community has been actively involved in the Yarralumla Creek restoration project as part of Clean Up Australia Day; the planting of trees for mums on Mother’s Day; Landcare activities; and through Conservation Volunteers Australia. An ongoing weed control program was undertaken throughout urban areas in spring and summer, targeting environmental weeds such as St John’s wort, Paterson’s curse, African love grass, blackberry and woody weeds.
The infrastructure report card issued by Engineers Australia for the ACT in 2005 indicated that the overall condition of roads in the ACT was good, although it acknowledged the fact that there was a need to undertake significant maintenance work to maintain this standard in the future, given that the age profile of the majority of roads is 30 years plus. Mr Pratt did not give us the same story. In relation to footpaths, while their general condition is adequate, it is recognised that the condition of some of the footpaths in the older and more established areas is poor. This has been identified by the ACT government for specific attention over the next three years, with the additional funding of $4 million being provided through the budget process.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .