Page 2243 - Week 06 - Monday, 11 May 2009
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The ecosystem connectivity mapping is part of a research project “Ecological Connectivity for Climate Change” that the Australian National University is undertaking for the ACT Government.
The project will address Action No. 34 of the ACT Government’s Climate Change Action Plan 2007-2011. It will also support the biodiversity and sustainable development goals and objectives expressed in the ACT Spatial Plan, the Territory Plan and other statutory instruments (eg Action Plans prepared pursuant to the Nature Conservation Act 1980).
It is anticipated that draft connectivity map(s) will be available for use by the Department of Territory and Municipal Services by the end of June 2009.
Environment—travelling to work options
(Question No 178)
Ms Le Couteur asked the Minister for Transport, upon notice, on 2 April 2009:
Regarding the Climate Change Strategy Action Plan Action No 17, what have been the outcomes of the review of travelling to work options.
Mr Stanhope: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
An Interdepartmental Committee (IDC) has investigated the option of carpooling within ACT Government agencies.
The investigation comprised three main activities:
1. An ACT Government wide survey to identify the opportunities for car pooling and gauge staff interest in the initiative;
2. Research on organisations that have implemented a car pooling scheme to identify features/actions that have contributed to their success and to gain valuable insight to any lessons they may have learned; and
3. A review of available car pooling matching services.
The outcome of the investigation is that opportunities exist to develop a feasible car pooling scheme. The IDC found that car pooling is most successful when it is supported by adequate promotion and appropriate incentives. Therefore promotion and incentives would be important features of a car pooling pilot. The IDC also suggested there could be broader benefits in promoting car pooling in conjunction with other sustainable transport alternatives (such as walking, cycling, using public transport) to offer the greatest flexibility for staff to reduce their car journeys.
Examination of car pooling services which are publicly available, at no cost, compared with developing a customised car pool matching service for ACT government employees, indicated that a customised car pool matching service is much more likely to generate usage of the matching service. Suppliers which charge for their facilities offer significantly higher levels of service than their free counterparts.
The Government will consider the IDC’s findings on car pooling in the context of future budget processes.
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