Page 3059 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 14 August 2013
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In conclusion, I support Mr Rattenbury’s amendment, and I urge my colleagues to do so as well.
MR WALL (Brindabella) (6.11): I am very pleased to be speaking in support of Mr Coe’s motion today. The impact of ongoing roadworks and the lack of coordination surrounding them, the implementation of traffic calming measures, inconsistent speed limits and the lack of signage are felt by road users across the whole territory. I wish I could complain about the poorly planned roadworks that are occurring in my electorate, however, there has been a considerable absence of any for quite some time.
Road congestion as a result of delayed and ongoing roadwork is nothing new, and we may need to look at the haphazard approach taken in addressing the duplication of Tharwa Drive when it was underway and the time it took to complete. Residents of Tuggeranong have for the life of this government been made to simply swallow the fact that this government cannot get road infrastructure right, whether it be the failure to address the traffic safety and traffic flow issues in Chifley at both ends of Eggleston Crescent or the morning congestion at the intersection of Isabella Drive and the Monaro Highway, not to mention the superfluous third lane when travelling southbound on the Monaro Highway that irritates commuters on their way home. Or dare I mention the long-promised but yet-to-be delivered Ashley Drive duplication? The fact is that the maintenance and delivery of our road infrastructure and the impact it has on our community is not a priority for the Labor-Greens government we have today.
Mr Coe’s motion notes the heavy-handed traffic calming measures that Holt residents on Spofforth Street have had to endure. I want to state the concern that many members of my electorate have recently raised with me regarding the traffic consultation for the Fadden and Gowrie area. Whilst it is widely accepted that improvements need to be made in this area, it is alarming that the solution is simply to install speed cushions. The realignment of Coyne Street will significantly improve safety and traffic flow, but widespread use of only one method of slowing traffic is outdated and should not be relied on simply because it is amongst the cheapest.
I also take this opportunity to mention Inkster Street in Kambah. Last week I met with a number of residents in the street who are seeking some help to try and manage traffic flowing through their street. Residents believe improvements, often simple ones, such as improving signage, could go a long way to addressing the issues they are facing. This is an issue I have written to Mr Rattenbury on, and I look forward to receiving his response in regard to this matter.
I commend Mr Coe for bringing this motion here today, and I reiterate his call to develop road, parking, cycling, pedestrian and public transport infrastructure before existing services reach capacity and the need to undertake roadworks in a coordinated and considered fashion.
MS PORTER (Ginninderra) (6.14): I will try not to fall over while I stand here. I want to briefly respond to Mr Coe, as he probably thought I would, in regard to his
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