Page 1515 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 14 May 2014
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upgrade program that targets infill lighting of paths and streets. These programs are developed from requests from the public and are based on a warrant system. During 2013-14, for example, $250,000 has been committed to lighting infill.
There has also been an ongoing light replacement program where inefficient lights have been replaced in the inner suburbs of Canberra with highly efficient energy saving lights. Of the 3,000 lights upgraded this financial year, over 20 per cent were within the inner Canberra suburbs. Of course, this has the added advantage of reducing our carbon footprint.
It is worth noting that with the redevelopment of inner suburbs, where new developments are built, such as multi-storey apartments, the developer is required to upgrade the lighting around their development to current Australian standards. Of course, members will also have noticed when they go past these developments that the footpath gets upgraded. There is also a significant capital works program for the building of footpaths in new locations in existing suburbs to encourage walking and to improve neighbourhood amenity.
All of the identified missing links and requested additions to the network are assessed using a warrant system that takes into account factors such as safety, connectivity to community facilities, including schools, group and local shopping centres and public transport, as well as traffic desire lines. During 2013-14 over $1 million has been spent to build around 3,400 metres of the highest ranked priorities.
As I have said before, the path maintenance work is based on need, not age or particular suburbs, and for reasons of equity and efficiency this must continue. The path needs of all suburbs are being addressed in a systematic and planned manner for the benefit of residents and as part of our plan to increase walking and cycling as an integral part of our transport system.
Given the points I have just made, I will be moving an amendment which gives both a realistic assessment of the state of footpaths in Canberra and a fair and objective approach to footpath repairs and maintenance. I simply conclude my remarks before moving the amendment by saying that I actually think this is very important. I also get representations through Canberra Connect, who receive many reports that are directly dealt with, and, of course, through a number of MLAs who write to me.
I reassure members that I read each and every one of those letters. I do my best to make sure the answer coming back from TAMS is forthright. We cannot meet everybody’s requests all of the time. I am usually pretty forthright with members about that. I will say, “This is actually down the ranking list because of where it is.” We get all sorts of requests. There has to be some sort of ranking. I am more than happy to receive further requests from members. I cannot always guarantee an immediate fix.
As I was observing before, sometimes a request comes in and it will be put into a works package that takes six or eight months. What I actually find when I write back to people and say, “Look, it will be done; it will take six months because that’s the most efficient way to get the contract to work,” is that members of the public are very
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