Page 834 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 18 March 2015
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As the Minister for Planning, Mr Gentleman, has outlined, the Oaks Estate master plan has been finalised and considered by government. The master plan seeks to improve traffic movement and harmonise land use to maintain the existing village character. It recognises and supports the unique character of Oaks Estate but allows new opportunities to revitalise the village.
Minister Rattenbury in his contribution observed that Territory and Municipal Services have a significant role to play in Oaks Estate. As I understand it, they are present several times each week to deliver litter picking, cleaning maintenance, horticultural maintenance, herbicide spraying and mowing programs. In addition, when illegal dumping is identified, it is placed on the TAMS program for removal. Grass mowing has been an issue over this summer. I am advised that the last mow in Oaks Estate was completed a little over two weeks ago as part of the regular mowing program.
The Minister for Housing in her contribution noted that the directorate is working closely with key stakeholders and the wider community to ensure that public housing meets residents’ needs and properly supports vulnerable members of the community. Through a partnership with experienced providers such as St Vincent de Paul, we are working to best deliver support and accommodation for people with complex needs, and indeed those who live with mental illness. This means there is an enhanced support mechanism always available for tenants.
The final master plan aims to address transport concerns within the village, and to and from the village. It recommends a series of improvements to traffic management for safety and amenity, and recommends a series of improvements to better connect pedestrian and cycle paths to both the Queanbeyan and ACT shared path systems. I understand that regular meetings are held on public transport between Qcity and the ACT government on the provision of route and school services to and from Oaks Estate. We heard some detail from Minister Rattenbury around those services.
In relation to improved safety measures, Oaks Estate has been identified as a location to which ACT Policing will direct additional resources aimed at detecting, disrupting and preventing antisocial and criminal behaviour. This is something that the minister for police has certainly been pursuing. I understand that a recent operation in Oaks Estate took place last month. It consisted of mobile vehicle patrols, random breath testing and traffic enforcement activities. There were 50 negative screening tests and five traffic infringement notices issued during that particular operation. ACT Policing advises that the number of offences reported in Oaks Estate for the period January 2015 to February 2015 has decreased overall by 57 per cent.
The actions that are already underway or proposed for the future regarding village amenity, urban renewal, public housing support services, transport and safety are starting to deliver some results and certainly have the potential to achieve more in the future.
Having said all of that, there is of course more work to do. This is recognised and understood across ACT government. Minister Gentleman’s amendment calls for
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