Page 1462 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 14 May 2014
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It is, however, clear that the government will be aiming to have a single ticketing system across these modes of transport so that people can move seamlessly between them. The other place that will play out, of course, will be that issues such as cycling and walking infrastructure will also need to be configured to offer the maximum benefit to patrons seeking to use light rail.
Transport—Woden bus depot
MR COE: My question is to the Minister for Territory and Municipal Services and it is about bus depots. Minister, where is the government at with regard to investment at ACTION’s Woden depot?
MR RATTENBURY: The intention to use the Woden depot as a third depot for ACTION Canberra has been delayed. This has been as a result of problems with underground storage tanks, which were there from earlier times. There have been some issues with the removal of those tanks. This is an environmental safety and I think occupational health and safety issue that needs to be addressed. There has been some delay in getting the detailed designs and costings for the removal of those tanks.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Coe.
MR COE: If the tanks provide a threat to the future use of the Woden depot, does that mean the depot is not currently in use?
MR RATTENBURY: I will check this, but I believe part of the depot is currently tenanted out to another user.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mrs Jones.
MRS JONES: Minister, as a result of light rail drawing public transport capital expenditure, is there less money for the Woden depot changes that are required?
MR RATTENBURY: No; there is absolutely no correlation between those two things. The connection Mrs Jones is seeking to draw is simply not there. As I explained in my initial answer to Mr Coe, this has been an issue quite separate from the issue of funding of light rail.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Dr Bourke.
DR BOURKE: Minister, what benefits will arise for ACTION from this work at the Woden bus depot?
MR RATTENBURY: The intent of reopening the Woden bus depot has been to provide a reduced amount of dead running for ACTION buses by having an additional hub. This will obviously produce a range of efficiencies for ACTION, which improves both the passenger service and the bottom line for ACTION. If the intent of Dr Bourke’s question was around the actual clean-up, obviously, it is a matter for government to be responsible about ensuring that the site is cleaned up from the tanks that were there previously and the impact that they have had.
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