Page 2942 - Week 09 - Thursday, 13 August 2015
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Is it any wonder that the people of Ginninderra are becoming more and more frustrated with this government’s habit of ignoring them in the times that matter to them and focusing their efforts on the things that do not matter so much? Sometimes we all, including residents, joke about the term “roads, rates and rubbish” but the overwhelming message I get from the people of Ginninderra is that these matters are important to them. The only one of those three matters that is important to the government is rates—putting them up so they can pay for their train set. I do not think that this is good enough, and I do not believe that the people of Ginninderra think that it is good enough either.
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella—Minister for Planning, Minister for Roads and Parking, Minister for Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations, Minister for Children and Young People and Minister for Ageing) (8.57): As Minister for Roads and Parking I am very proud of the funding that the ACT government has committed to the ongoing development of our city in this budget. The budget delivers more than $90 million in spending for new roads and road infrastructure in addition to the ongoing road maintenance programs. The budget invests in our road network, providing funds to ease congestion, delays and queuing at intersections.
The budget provides $24.6 million over three years for the duplication of Ashley Drive from Erindale Drive to Ellerston Avenue. This follows on from stage 1 works which were completed last year and progresses the commitment given by the ACT government to improve safety, access and capacity for users in Canberra. Since Ashley Drive was first built there has been extensive development in the Lanyon valley and south Tuggeranong and the results of the growth are now being experienced on parts of Ashley Drive in the form of heavy congestion in the morning and afternoon peak periods.
The duplication of this section of Ashley Drive will double capacity on the busy stretch of road and will support new transport-related developments planned for the Erindale group centre such as the soon to be upgraded bus station and future park-and-ride facilities. The upgrade of Ashley Drive will cater to all modes of transport and will include a new pedestrian bridge over Monks Creek linking Isabella Plains to the north, traffic signals at key intersections to support safe access to the adjacent suburbs and on-road cycle lanes. These pedestrian and cycle facilities will help to increase the number of people using active travel day to day.
$31.1 million has been provided over two years to deliver stage l of the Gundaroo Drive upgrade project which will duplicate the road between Gungahlin Drive and the intersection of Mirrabei Drive and Anthony Rolfe Avenue. The upgrade will include the provision of bus priority lanes at the intersection with Gundaroo Drive and Gungahlin Drive. This will provide improved reliability for public transport patrons travelling between Gungahlin and Belconnen.
The duplication of this section of road will improve safety and relieve congestion in the growing Gungahlin region and has been prioritised due to accident trends and levels of congestion on this section of the road network. As with the Ashley Drive upgrade, this project will cater for active travel, and will deliver on-road cycle lanes and safe diversions at the two major roundabouts on this section of road.
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