Page 103 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 9 February 2010

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

MR SESELJA (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition) (4.47): I am very pleased that we are able to bring this matter to the attention of the Assembly today. It is worth, Mr Assistant Speaker, going through where we have got to in relation to Well Station Drive. I would like to acknowledge the very hard work of my colleague Alistair Coe on this issue. I think that he has very much been leading the way in his shadow ministerial portfolio responsibilities. We as a party have been working hard to listen to the residents of Harrison to hear their concerns, to bring their concerns to the Assembly and to seek resolution.

In November last year, the Assembly passed a motion brought forward by Mr Coe which called on the ACT government to realign the Well Station Drive extension to the east of a small hill opposite Carpentaria Street. It is worth looking at what that motion actually was, because it was passed in the Assembly. Indeed, the motion that was brought by Mr Coe was only amended with a couple of words by the Greens and then passed.

The motion that was passed was as follows:

That this Assembly:

(1) recognises that:

(a) the current proposed alignment of Wells Station Drive Extension will create problems of noise pollution, road safety and loss of urban amenity for residents in Harrison;

(b) the consultation that preceded residents living in the vicinity of the Wells Station Drive Extension was inadequate; and

(2) calls on the Government to:

(a) abandon the current proposed alignment of Wells Station Drive Extension; and

(b) redesign the Wells Station Drive Extension to an eastern alignment in consultation with the local community.

That was passed with the support of the Greens. The Liberal Party and the Greens in this place supported that motion on behalf of residents of Harrison, and Gungahlin more broadly. The Assembly passed this motion because of the significant concern expressed by residents of Harrison and the Gungahlin Community Council.

The current alignment has 20,000 cars per day just 20 metres from a residential street. The realignment would address significant issues for the community. It would reduce noise for residents and ensure that their quality of life is maintained. The extension would also mean that Well Station Drive has a safer intersection with Horse Park Drive.

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