Page 3388 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 21 October 2014
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The predicted travel time for the light rail service is 25 minutes—that is, 25 minutes to travel 12.5 kilometres, stopping about a dozen times. So the government is aiming for a travel speed of about 30 kilometres an hour. This is not particularly appealing for the more than 50,000 people who live in Gungahlin. It seems that this light rail proposal is targeted not at Gungahlin residents but at the frequent stopping zone in the inner north.
The Canberra Liberals took to the 2012 election a cycling initiative that recognised the benefits and opportunities of cycling in Canberra. The initiatives included constructing a cycle path along Horse Park Drive, supporting the construction of the Civic cycling loop, and investigating how major roads such as Adelaide Avenue, Belconnen Way and others can have on-road cycling infrastructure improved through separation or segregation.
We committed to injecting further money into the street sweeping program, a safe crossing at Bowen Drive, improving the emphasis on cycling in the L and P-plate written examinations, and also producing literature for distribution through cycling organisations and retailers that inform cyclists of their rights and obligations when riding in Canberra. We also supported the principle of cycling through the Jerrabomberra wetlands and other areas. The opposition has long had the view that separated or segregated cycle paths are optimal, and where possible we should be taking that course of action.
The examples that I have just mentioned as part of our 2012 promise were clear examples of practical and pragmatic options that we should take to transport planning.
The opposition recognises the numerous advocacy and community groups that campaign for better active transport. I would like to acknowledge the good work done by Tony Stubbs and his team, including the LiveLighter initiative. The Heart Foundation has been a strong voice campaigning for better lifestyles, facilitated by the better decisions made by individuals and government.
For every dollar that the government spends, there is an opportunity cost. A dollar spent in one area is a dollar forgone in another. I am very concerned about what we are forgoing as a result of more than $800 million being spent on light rail.
What would that capital expenditure purchase by way of footpath or cycling infrastructure, for health facilities or for the bus network—or even for Mr Fluffy home owners? These are very real questions which the government have simply ignored as part of their ideological and selfish commitment to the Labor-Greens agreement. The Canberra Pedestrian Forum estimates that 30 per cent of Canberra streets do not have footpaths and that Canberra’s network of on-road cycling lanes, off-road shared community paths and footpaths reach only half of Canberra homes. What could $800 million do to address this issue? Such infrastructure connects people to their neighbours and provides a link from their house that is perhaps more inviting and appealing than their driveway, yet this local infrastructure has been ignored.
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