Page 973 - Week 03 - Thursday, 19 March 2015
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response. The work done by the GCC has showcased the importance of active outreach and engagement in collating the views and concerns of the community. I congratulate the GCC on the success of the “Have your say” survey.
Roads—Copland Drive
MRS DUNNE (Ginninderra) (4.38): Residents of Belconnen, in particular those around Melba and Evatt, are being asked to participate in a Copland Drive traffic study about the state of that road and surrounding areas. I welcome this because over the years the state of Copland Drive and the issues in relation to speeding have been a top-of-mind issue for my constituents and neighbours. I have to declare an interest here; I live on a street that feeds directly off Copland Drive, but not in an area which is of particular concern, and my intersection is quite good.
I am concerned, however, about some of the proposals that are being put forward in stage 2 of the Copland Drive traffic study. There was an extensive letterboxing program with a very tightly typed pamphlet that went out. It is not the sort of pamphlet that encourages people to read it because there is so much to be read on it. I have also had a lot of feedback from constituents.
One of the issues that was raised with me—and this is the one that I am most particularly concerned about—is that constituents have complained to me about the way they were treated at the consultation at the Melba shops last Saturday. One constituent said to me:
The … government representative was dismissive of our comments, saying that in response to any points we might have to make there would be other people who would have the opposite view anyway and that they simply have to go through this consultation process.
That means the consultants have made up their mind, and that means the government have made up their mind and they are probably wasting everybody’s time and money by having this so-called consultation. There is another consultation this afternoon at the Melba shops.
One area of particular concern is Grainger Circuit, where the government is proposing to install speed cushions outside the primary school. This is despite the fact that the residents who live in Grainger Circuit have said that speeding is not an issue in Grainger Circuit—the issue is illegal parking during school hours in areas that block traffic—and that the installation of speed humps will not address the issues of illegal parking which block the view and make it dangerous for people to cross there.
One constituent sent me a letter that had 27 recommendations for works that could be done along Copland Drive, but it seems that most of these issues have not been taken up in the consultation. It is becoming apparent that there is a risk that the consultants have gone into this issue with a preconceived set of ideas and that if constituents come up with a contrary idea they will just be cast aside.
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