Page 3971 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 30 October 2013
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around a rebuilt Parkes Way, Cooyong Street, Clunies Ross Street and Barry Drive. I think this makes a lot of sense. At the moment a lot of the north-south traffic goes straight through the centre of the city. If we can find some clear, viable alternatives we can keep this traffic away from our centre.
I had also planned to comment on the Sydney and Melbourne buildings, which I know Mr Corbell just spoke about. I share his views that they are magnificent buildings. They are a great part of Canberra’s heritage. When you see some of the old sepia photographs of the city centre those two buildings stand there as the original landmarks of our city. But now, with six lanes rumbling through there, it is not the most attractive part of our city. I think that is a great shame. If we could find a way to redesign the city to change that dynamic I think that would be a very positive thing. I welcome the fact that the city plan is actively looking at those sorts of issues.
The other comment I would like to make is that we know that people want a walkable city with good pedestrian and cycle access. The Greens have consistently advocated for good pedestrian and cycle paths—I do not think that is news to anybody—but the paths need to be planned now so that the city can develop around them, with walkability and access at the forefront of design. We need to make sure that those access thoroughfares, essentially, are set out, constructed and maintained if we are to drive a greater level of walking and cycling through the city. Again, some of the designs that I have looked at show those flows.
It comes back to the issue I was talking about earlier with City Hill and about it acting as a significant barrier. When one goes to walk from the Assembly to the other side of the city—if you have got to go to NICTA or a function over at the Lakeside—there is often a real dilemma as to how best to get there. You end up having to decide which way to go around London Circuit rather than going the way that perhaps instinct would dictate.
I welcome this motion today and the discussion of the city plan. It is a great opportunity to evolve the city into its next phase as a 21st century city and to meet the expectations of our modern residents, the current generations.
Ms Berry’s motion talks about having a day and a night city, essentially. Comments on Canberra over the years have been, frankly, that you can walk through the city at night and not see anybody. I think that is changing slowly. I welcome the elements of the city plan that seek to increase the level of residential accommodation available in the city. I think this brings real benefits to the city both in terms of making it a day and a night city and in terms of improving safety, and all the benefits that go with that. If people feel safe in the city and they feel that there are people around—and that is obviously good for traders in the city—it creates an environment which people find more enjoyable.
I look forward to seeing the community comments that come in during this current phase. It will be fascinating to see what the tenor of those remarks is. I look forward to working further on the city plan and helping ensure that our city is the vibrant, energetic and well-planned hub that our residents aspire to.
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