Page 5509 - Week 15 - Wednesday, 9 December 2009
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master planning can help address these issues, as well as providing a drive to future growth and prosperity for Erindale businesses.
There is also some concern that having a bus interchange or park and ride objectives in Erindale may not work effectively if they are based around the current road infrastructure. Without effective changes to current roads and parking, it may be unlikely that people will travel to Erindale through congested traffic to find a car park for a bus service. As well, Erindale Drive currently services a large number of cars per day, and questions have been raised as to its ability to take on a larger amount of traffic.
The ACT Greens also call upon the government to talk to the people of Erindale about how best to maintain access to shopping, restaurants, clubs and medical facilities whilst reducing congestion and facilitating better access to effective public transport. A transparent and inclusive master planning process ensures that the future of Erindale is inclusive, not divisive, and gives residents a stake in the future of their community. The ACT Greens emphasise the importance of developing an effective public transport network into the future. However, these needs must be addressed while ensuring the continuation of community services and local business.
As part of the master planning process for both Erindale and Tuggeranong, and in acknowledgement of the sustainable transport plan, we also call upon the government to examine the options available for planned interchanges and park and ride facilities in Tuggeranong. As has been noted by Nick Tsoulis of Neighbourhood Watch, other locations may be more appropriate for a park and ride facility servicing the Erindale area, including a possibility for a Calwell park and ride facility, which would then have bus services that link to Erindale and the interchange.
There is a concern that a bus interchange in or around the Erindale shopping centre may put additional pressure on traffic congestion. There is concern that facilities in the area are busy and near capacity and pressure from increased traffic from buses and other cars would impact on business owners, consumers and residents in the surrounding area. It is important that the centralisation of services, schools, medical centres, bus interchanges and park and ride facilities consider the overall needs and locations of suburbs in the Tuggeranong Valley.
People who have participated in this consultation are in agreement that Erindale is an area which requires and needs immediate attention. The community needs to be involved at all levels, from the beginning of the planning process until the end. As I previously noted, the master plan should consider if Erindale is the most appropriate location for a park and ride facility. This may indeed come out of the planned feasibility study for the Erindale park and ride. Other sites I have mentioned, such as Calwell and even Chisholm, may be more appropriate and could be considered. There also needs to be a consideration of how rapid bus services would integrate with park and ride and any future bus interchange at Erindale.
There are a wide range of existing concerns about roads and access to arterial connections in Erindale and the Tuggeranong Valley. The Greens maintain that more and bigger roads are not a solution. However, reducing congestion and ensuring easier
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