Page 34 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 10 February 2015
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day construction period. We allowed for contingencies. That extended it to be about three weeks. The second option had a construction period of five to seven weeks. The earlier weeks in January are traditionally quiet weeks in Canberra. It is the quietest time. There are still people moving about, but it is recognised and acknowledged as the quiet time in Canberra.
I agreed that the absolute cut-through—close the road, get in and get it done the quickest way possible—was the best option. Either way, there was going to be disruption to traffic. The long-term benefit is that we have got a fire and rescue station. Inconvenience—no doubt about that. I was driving through Anketell Street on the Monday morning and I heard on radio that there was traffic congestion even though there were traffic management plans in place. Anketell Street on that Monday morning was as dead as a doornail. There was no traffic. There were very few people. I took myself down to Lanyon on the Tuesday morning, the following morning, to have a look and I saw—
Mr Wall: And you found the traffic.
MS BURCH: I did. Where were you, Mr Wall? Were you anywhere to be seen? Did you get out of your bed early in the morning every day to make sure that I was in touch with the community and that I could come back and report firsthand—
Mr Wall interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Order, Mr Wall!
MS BURCH: to the commissioner and to Roads about more work needing to be done—
Mr Wall interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Order, Mr Wall!
MS BURCH: More work needed to be done. I went down there. I went there every morning. The first morning, on the Tuesday morning, I bought coffee at Guru in the marketplace. It took me 40 minutes and I did not get past the roundabout. I was there with everyone else. Do you think I did not come back to the commission and say, “Between you and Roads, can you do better?” Absolutely. Am I going to be responsible for that? I am happy to take that, Mr Wall. I am happy to take that. I was up there every morning at 7 o’clock until we got it right. Was it inconvenience? Yes, it was. Do we have a fire and rescue station now to serve and protect south Tuggeranong? God damn right we do!
MADAM SPEAKER: Can I ask you to withdraw that, please, Ms Burch. It is not appropriate language.
MS BURCH: I do apologise. I do apologise, Madam Speaker, and I will withdraw. I will tell the Assembly how in tune the Canberra Liberals were with this. We put a media release out on 13 January advising the community that Tharwa Drive opened at
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