Page 3782 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 29 October 2014
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Works are also underway to construct the shared path as part of the Majura parkway construction works and are expected to be completed concurrently with the parkway. This is an important element in terms of promoting alternative modes of transport as highlighted in the transport for Canberra strategy.
Mr Coe’s motion specifically refers to concerns around access from the Majura parkway to the city via Fairbairn Avenue. The roads planning includes addressing these concerns through a working group that Minister Rattenbury has talked about, which includes not only ACT government agencies but also the National Capital Authority and the Canberra Airport.
The broader issues around the Majura parkway are also important considerations in planning for capital metro and city to the lake, and are also taken into consideration in the airport master plan. I have regular discussions with the Canberra Airport management about a wide range of issues, including the roads network around the parkway. The airport is a significant economic hub in the ACT and hopefully it will continue to grow that role across the region. Our roads planning takes into account improvements to access to the airport. This includes things like the impact on the roads system with the opening of the newest lKEA shop in the country in Majura Park towards the end of next year.
In a broader transport planning sense, and as Mr Rattenbury has noted, when it is open in 2016 the Majura parkway will complete the eastern parkway system in the ACT. Our success in winning funding through the commonwealth, and supported by Infrastructure Australia, was based on clearly demonstrating the national, regional and local economic benefits that this road would bring.
As we noted in this morning’s debate on Dr Bourke’s motion, it is crucial that governments plan for the future. This is clearly the case not only with roads planning but also with public transport improvements. We cannot sit back and hope that things do not get worse in terms of congestion. As a government we need to have clear strategies that spell out our broader transport plans, as this important road has been central to them.
As with the $288 million Majura parkway, capital metro will be another major infrastructure project that will provide benefits across the community, as well as benefiting the territory in terms of economic activity and revitalisation when faced with reduced commonwealth employment and spending.
In relation to Mr Coe’s motion, our roads and transport planning is taking into account issues such as he has stated in terms of Fairbairn Avenue, and as was well articulated by Minister Rattenbury in his contribution to this debate. We do undertake studies and measuring of traffic flows.
As I said, transport planning happens over a long period of time and we need to ensure that we do have efficient transport networks across the city. This includes roads, public transport and active transport—all topics that we have actively debated here in the Assembly over the last few years and no doubt we will continue to do so over the next few years. The government will be pleased to support Mr Rattenbury’s amendment to Mr Coe’s motion today.
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