Page 5092 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 26 October 2011
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retail and other facilities in the town centre. The draft variation to the territory plan DV 300 incorporated the feedback from public consultation. In order to meet the current parking needs, the Economic Development Directorate provided additional temporary parking on another site east of the retail developments in the town centre.
Mr Coe raises the issue of parking demand at Yerrabi in his motion. In response to this, the management of parking is an important consideration in local centres such as Yerrabi. While parking demand in the vicinity of the Yerrabi centre is high, there are generally parking spaces available within the distances set out in the parking and vehicular access general code under the territory plan. Part of the parking demand management approach envisaged in transport for Canberra means changing our attitudes about how far away our destination will be to where we are able to park and looking at a reasonable walking distance from centres depending on the best and highest value use of land.
The parking code allows for short-stay parking for visitors and customers to be made available within 100 metres of a site and, for employees and business owners, long-stay parking should be provided up to 200 metres from a site. Based on assessments to date, there is generally sufficient parking within those distances to meet parking demand at Yerrabi. However, the government would be happy to work further with local businesses experiencing any problems with parking availability for their customers to identify any other further solutions.
As you can see, Mr Speaker, the government is undertaking a comprehensive approach to addressing the issues raised in Mr Coe’s motion. The government has invested in transport for Gungahlin, including services like the introduction of Red Rapid buses, the temporary parking I have already noted at the town centre and the overall Gungahlin master plan approach, including our planning and consultation on future public transport facilities. These studies are close to completion and we will soon commence construction to improve the amenity, people-friendly nature and transport and community functions of the Gungahlin town centre. The government is committed to investing in our communities through revitalising town centres like Gungahlin and will continue to put our planning studies into action by delivering high quality, people-focused transport projects for Gungahlin.
Given the comments I have made and the fact that I have been able to demonstrate the government’s comprehensive response to the issues raised by Mr Coe in his motion, I have prepared an amendment that reflects my comments. I now move the amendment circulated in my name:
Omit all words after “That this Assembly”, substitute:
“(1) notes:
(a) that a feasibility study, which has had community input, to upgrade the bus stations in the Gungahlin Town Centre and to improve transport flow, access and amenity in the Town Centre is nearing completion;
(b) that the Government has, as detailed in Transport for Canberra, already provided funding to construct the improved public transport facilities, including better bus stations;
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