Page 509 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 21 February 2012
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This has been funded in the most recent budget, with $200,000 allocated for the feasibility and public consultation processes. This includes the engagement of an engineering firm to assist us with the various options that should be considered. And importantly, it is about giving the community a say on what they think about this proposal. To that end, on Saturday there will be a public information stall at the Curtin shops, where residents will be invited to have their say about the proposals. There will be illustrations on hand to explain the nature of the different proposals and seek community feedback. Of course, we also welcome community feedback through the online forums available.
This is all about making sure that more people can access public transport. It is about making sure that more Canberrans can use a high frequency public transport service that delivers a rapid and effective service along the Blue Rapid route, five to eight minutes throughout the working day, and indeed at a 15-minute interval on the weekends. So it is a very important service if we can get it right, and I look forward to the feedback from the community on this initiative—another example of this government focusing on delivering practical projects to improve access for public transport and give Canberrans more transport choices.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Hargreaves, a supplementary.
MR HARGREAVES: Yes, Mr Speaker. Before Mr Coe wants one up the middle of Barry Drive, minister, can you tell us why Adelaide Avenue and Yarra Glen and not any of the other major commuter routes in and out of Canberra?
MR CORBELL: I thank Mr Hargreaves for the question. I can disabuse him that it is not just Adelaide Avenue and Yarra Glen that the government is focusing on. Adelaide Avenue-Yarra Glen is a very important corridor because of the very large number of public transport services that use that corridor. The Blue Rapid service is one of the busiest services in the city when it comes to the delivery of public transport. The government is not just focusing on that corridor; it is also focusing, for example, on the Canberra Avenue corridor. A study is currently underway looking at how we can deliver bus priority measures along Canberra Avenue. We are seeing significant growth in that corridor, particularly commuters coming through from Queanbeyan. The government is doing the detailed work on that now.
We are also focusing on delivering better bus infrastructure in the parliamentary triangle. Right now a feasibility study is underway for a new bus station in Barton to be a central point for people working in the parliamentary triangle to have a comfortable, safe and well-lit space for them to sit or to wait before the bus collects them. This is also about making sure that we provide better bus infrastructure for Canberrans.
Of course, this builds on the government’s other investments—investments such as the Belconnen town centre bus station, a fantastic new bus station facility supporting people who live in the Belconnen district. There are the dedicated bus lanes on Barry Drive and a new major bus station due to open very soon at city west within the Australian National University exchange campus. So there is a very important series
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