Page 3374 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 17 August 2010
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some of the works within Civic and the Civic area. Of course, that particular proposal is very much part of our thinking. I just want to go back and have a look, but I am more than happy to respond fully to you in relation to where that work stands in our thinking.
I am supportive of it. I accept most particularly the representations that I have received from cyclists, most particularly through Pedal Power, around the enormously strong support for enhanced cycling amenity throughout this area of the city, up and down Northbourne Avenue throughout the whole of the city. Indeed, I do not deny the importance of east-west cycle routes for safety through the city as a priority. I also accept that the Civic cycling loop is a significant priority and I hope we can fund it and deliver it sooner rather than later. But I will give you a bit more detail, Ms Le Couteur.
MS HUNTER: A supplementary, Mr Speaker?
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Hunter.
MS HUNTER: How does the government ensure that expensive roadworks and refurbishment are not undertaken in areas that are already under consideration for redesign?
MR STANHOPE: In a technical sense, I am not quite sure I can answer that. My expectation always would be—and it would be the basis on which all agencies work—that they work together, that they work collegiately and that they do develop an understanding around works that might be in the pipeline, that would be affected by an upgrade where perhaps aspects of that upgrade would be affected or, indeed, perhaps dug up or destroyed as a result. We have quite sophisticated, detailed negotiation, consultation and collaboration across agencies.
From time to time, there will be works that are done that have a quite short life or time frame. More often than not, from my experience where I do see examples of that, I believe it is almost always appropriate.
I cannot stand here and invite members to do it. I can perhaps give a more specific response if there is a piece of infrastructure work, an upgrade, that has been undertaken where it has been, essentially, rendered negatory or irrelevant as a result of subsequent redevelopment or work. I would be interested to know of it so that I could perhaps get a better appreciation from agencies around why our forward thinking had not kicked in to ensure that we did not expend moneys on infrastructure where the infrastructure would be rendered obsolete or unnecessary.
There are occasions where we do repair roads, where we do undertake some works which are rendered irrelevant, but almost always, in my experience, they are done for quite obvious safety or other reasons.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary, Ms Porter?
MS PORTER: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Minister, what other work is being undertaken or planned in Bunda Street to improve its amenity?
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