Page 5105 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 26 October 2011
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propensity to run the review, produce the brochure and think that their job is done, I am not confident an early solution is likely. I would urge the government to do more than just produce the paper and run consultation. Start thinking of what Canberra may need in the future, in 20 or 30 years time, not just next week, not just next election. We will need transport, public and private, and we must avoid the congestion and lack of planning that is the hallmark of our early colonial, settled cities. We have no excuse for such poor planning. I therefore commend Mr Coe’s motion to the Assembly this evening.
MR COE (Ginninderra) (8.55): The Canberra Liberals will be supporting Ms Le Couteur’s amendments. As Mr Seselja said, we do have some slight concerns with the amendments but by and large we do not think they change the substantive nature of the motion, which is of course that the residents of Gungahlin have drawn a short straw when it comes to infrastructure delivery by this ACT Labor government.
I would like to flag that whilst the shared space on Hibberson Street does have some potential and it is certainly worth investigating that option, we do have some other concerns about that. It is not to say that they cannot be overcome but we do need to have a discussion about whether that is the best way forward. I think what is absolutely vital is that we do keep the vehicular traffic going down Hibberson Street. I think we need that for the traders, we need that for the shoppers, we need that for the security and passive surveillance that it does provide. So whatever happens, I would be very disappointed if I saw that Hibberson Street was actually cut off to road traffic.
I do not necessarily think that the insertion of the word “consider” with regard to additional car parking at Yerrabi is warranted but, again, it by no means changes the substantive nature of the motion.
I thank the crossbench for their support of my motion. I am disappointed that the ACT Labor government still have their head in the sand when it comes to the 45,000 residents who get a raw deal from this government and I hope that this motion passing the Assembly today will give a clear message to the ACT government that they have been substandard with their delivery of infrastructure. They need to pick up their game.
Amendments agreed to.
Motion, as amended, agreed to.
Adjournment
Motion (by Mr Corbell) proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Belconnen Salvation Army
Fusion Canberra
MR COE (Ginninderra) (8.58): This evening I would like to acknowledge the organisers of the Belconnen Salvation Army annual spring fair that was held on
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