Page 4803 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 11 November 2009
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and Well Station Drive extension. This estate will be released in 2010-11, consistent with the government’s residential land release program.
Having considered all of these matters, the government believes that there is no justifiable reason to change the alignment of Well Station Drive extension, as it will not only incur additional costs for the taxpayer but also undermine the integrity of the arterial road network and the orderly and integrated planning for east Gungahlin. There is more to consider than just the residents of Harrison; we also must consider the future residents in Kenny and Throsby. I recognise that this creates an unfortunate tension, and, of course, it would be the easy solution to seek to solve a current problem now. But, as Ms Porter will go into in some detail in her contribution, that will not necessarily solve all of the problems and, in fact, may create more significant issues in the longer term.
On balance, whilst I acknowledge the concerns of Harrison residents and acknowledge that this is a difficult issue, I believe it can effectively be resolved in the road design and that there are other means with which the concerns of Harrison residents can be addressed without changing the road alignment.
I think it is also important to acknowledge that this place has considered this matter over a number of years. To suggest that the decisions were made without the authority of the Legislative Assembly is an unfortunate accusation to make, because it is clearly not the case. This Assembly passed that draft variation and that very road alignment, and it did so in the knowledge that it was balancing a range of needs and interests and, most particularly, taking a view of the bigger picture and the longer term—that is, to also meet the needs of Kenny and Throsby residents.
In this context, whilst I acknowledge it would be politically easy and it would be the convenient way through this particular issue, the government will not be supporting this motion today. On balance, as I say, in weighing up all the competing interests, the government believes that the current road alignment is appropriate but recognises the need in the road design to ensure that the issues that were raised by Harrison residents are appropriately addressed.
MS LE COUTEUR (Molonglo) (11.42): I thank Mr Coe for raising this issue today. I would also like to acknowledge the presence in the gallery of some Harrison residents, in particular Mr Uday Kaza, whose persistence has been instrumental in bringing this matter to the Assembly’s attention today and in the past.
The current proposed alignment of the Well Station Road extension joining to Horse Park Drive has been of concern to the residents of Harrison for some time now. I understand that the residents are not opposed to Well Station Drive being extended but really all they want is a realignment of the road. The Greens agree that there are a range of issues that need to be addressed in regard to this road; so we will be supporting Mr Coe’s motion today.
Mr Coe has already covered the main points in relation to the actual road building proposal and we agree with the points that he has made; so I will not go through them at great length. My comments will be more about the process and the consultation.
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