Page 3932 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 20 September 2017

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(8) the ACT Government will prioritise operationalising the Sandford Street stop at the earliest opportunity, but that this is unlikely before services begin in late 2018;

(9) that Mitchell will continue to be serviced by Transport Canberra buses to ensure public transport services to this important business precinct of Canberra now, as well as following the introduction of light rail services;

(10) the Minister for Transport and City Services has undertaken to follow-up on a range of issues raised by the Mitchell Traders Group, including:

(a) directing TCCS, Canberra Metro and the Light Rail Business Link program run by the Canberra Business Chamber to work with Mitchell traders on any additional practical measures which might support them during the construction phase of light rail;

(b) investigating opportunities to improve the delivery of city services in Mitchell; and

(11) calls on the ACT Government to continue to consult with businesses in Mitchell on the delivery of city services and minor capital works in Mitchell, including improvements to urban services such as footpaths and streetlight maintenance.”.

As noted in my amendment, there was an extensive opportunity for consultation during that period. I think the Canberra Liberals at some point need to take some responsibility in their role in the public debate around light rail. Extensively and persistently, they were nowhere requesting this in 2013, 2014 and 2015—nor, indeed, in 2016. I also caution Mr Wall about comments he made on the radio this morning that tens of thousands of people work in Mitchell. Also, I do not believe that there is a childcare centre operating in Mitchell, which he spoke about. I also caution him to understand the nature of the actual commercial agreement which underpins this very important infrastructure project for Canberra.

MS LE COUTEUR (Murrumbidgee) (10.32): The Greens will be supporting the government’s amendment. I first want to talk about the community consultation. In 2014 I was living in Downer. I point out that I am not living in Downer anymore; I am living in Phillip, in the electorate of Murrumbidgee. But in 2014 I was a happy resident in Downer and a member of the Downer Community Association. Without getting into anyone’s particular views, I can fairly say that the Downer Community Association was not all of one mind about light rail. However, we were very aware that it was happening, and we worked out that there were no planned light rail stops anywhere in Downer, which, as you can appreciate, we thought was a significant issue. In fact, at that stage, of course, there was a planned stop in Mitchell.

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