Page 2744 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 28 June 2011
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current budget they could not keep up with demand and therefore they had to spend more. In previous summers when it did not rain as much, we did not see huge savings being made, when they did not have to cut the lawn six times in a year or six times in a season but only had to cut it four or five times. Did we see the big savings? No, we did not. Yet, this year, when they had to go over, up to seven in a season, suddenly we saw a $1 million cost blow-out.
That is the story of TAMS, unfortunately—that you have so many areas of core business either being neglected or where the costs are being driven up so much that it puts an unreasonable impost on the territory and taxpayers in the territory through their rates, fees, fares and charges.
MS BRESNAN (Brindabella) (9.45): My colleague Caroline Le Couteur, who is our spokesperson on TAMS, will speak on the majority of the issues, including some that Mr Coe has referred to. I will refer to or discuss two of the key areas which relate to my portfolios, in that TAMS contains both the Office of Transport and ACTION buses.
Along with transport planning, which is in the environment and sustainability directorate, the Office of Transport and ACTION are key to whether Canberra is evolving into a city based on sustainable transport. In these two outputs this year, I would say that we have had both some wins and some losses.
There are a number of positive initiatives which the Greens are very supportive of and we welcome the government’s efforts in these areas. The budget progresses a number of public transport network enhancements. One of the most notable is the extension of the blue rapid 300 route from Belconnen to Kippax, along with an expansion of the Kippax park and ride. This is something that the Greens had specifically lobbied for, including through the parliamentary agreement, and I am pleased to see it being implemented. I do wonder, though, if there is a classification issue, as I recently learned, through a response to estimates questions, that the frequency between Belconnen and Kippax will be 15 minutes. It is slightly confusing to call this route the blue rapid line, as this line usually provides a five-minute frequency. Perhaps the extension to Kippax should also have a five-minute frequency.
We are also pleased to see extensions of the red rapid line through to Fyshwick, as well as a 15-minute frequency between Woden interchange and the Canberra Hospital. I hope these hospital routes are coordinated for easy connections, and I would also like to see the development of an easy, signposted walking and cycling route between Woden and the hospital. Many people may wish to walk or ride from Woden interchange to the hospital. The extensions of frequent trunk routes are very important, and more of these are required, in combination with frequent, coordinated services that link into the trunk routes. There is still considerable work to be done in this area.
One project missing from the budget is the extension of a rapid bus service into Calwell. This is an important service that has been lacking. The people of southern and western Tuggeranong need to be properly linked into the trunk public transport routes. Also I note that, in a response we received from a question on notice, the AECOM consultants, who completed the feasibility study on park and rides, have
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