Page 1773 - Week 06 - Thursday, 14 May 2015
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As I have said, this ACT Labor government is delivering upgrades across the road network to ensure that Canberra retains the high quality roads necessary for a growing city, along with investment in public transport. This government is continuing to roll out upgrades to the city roads network for the benefit of all.
MS LAWDER (Brindabella) (10.36): I thought I might take advantage of this opportunity to speak about the roads in my electorate of Brindabella as well. As Ms Fitzharris has mentioned, roads are one of the most common things that constituents raise, whether it is potholes, speeding, speed humps, dangerous corners or all sorts of other issues that are raised frequently. One example that is quite close to where I live—I get letters about it all the time—is Sternberg Crescent in Gowrie and Fadden. There has been some significant work done there as part of the Ashley Drive phase 1 extension, but that area remains of great concern to many local residents. It has had pulse lights installed, but there is a very short and narrow section of Sternberg Crescent leading up to that big roundabout and there continue to be a number of accidents occurring at the roundabout. I have written to the minister about some of those; I have spoken to local police. I can hear many of those accidents from my house as they occur—or near misses, where you hear the screech of brakes.
I have also noted that in that area there have been a number of repairs taking place, even though it is only a recently opened new stretch of road. It is unfortunate that we cannot seem to get better quality in the construction of our roads. In Sternberg Crescent, from memory, two places were named as two of the most dangerous intersections in Canberra in a recent Canberra Times article.
And let us not forget the debacle we had earlier this year with the closure of Tharwa Drive and the significant traffic problems that people coming from Lanyon valley had. It would be nice to see this government do something to allay the concerns of Lanyon valley residents, who have indicated their very deep fear that if there is another emergency—a natural disaster such as the bushfires that we had in 2003—they would have difficulty leaving the area.
Residents I have spoken to are absolutely keen and support the new emergency services centre. Many of them took the advantage of the open day to visit the emergency services centre. That is not at issue here. What is at issue is the planning and the lack of data that was used in order to put the temporary measures in place. There did not appear to be any sound data used at all when the temporary measures were put in place. That is something we have heard very strongly from residents of the Lanyon valley.
Having said that, when I have written to the minister he has been quite receptive and supportive and has made repairs as required. I thank the minister and his directorate for doing that.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
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