Page 5097 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 28 November 2017
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improvements around Mount Taylor, particularly near the intersection with Mannheim Street and Sulwood Drive in Kambah. As a resident of Kambah, I am acutely aware of the concerns of different members of the community, including motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, around the Sulwood Drive car park.
I also live right near the intersection, which I use every day in my vehicle, including this morning. I also walk my dog, Pickles, around Mount Taylor and so regularly use the mountain as a pedestrian as well. In the lead-up to the 2016 election, my colleague Bec Cody and also Labor candidate Angie Drake ran a petition on these issues and campaigned for a formalised car park at the base of Mount Taylor on Sulwood Drive.
Following the election, issues around the car park and the intersection were again brought to my attention by Kambah residents and the principal petitioner, Taryn Langdon, who initiated the current petition. Many people from across the south side access Mount Taylor from Sulwood Drive by parking adjacent to the Mannheim Street, Kambah entrance. There is currently no formalised car park there and the car park does not have a proper entry and exit point. This means that cars are unsafely turning on to Sulwood Drive next to the intersection with Mannheim Street.
This petition calls upon the government to investigate these issues, particularly the possible establishment of a formalised car park, and to address safety issues and the nearby intersection. The petition also requests that the government explore local residents’ wishes for more suitable cycling infrastructure and clearer signage.
The ACT government has a vision for Canberra as a healthy, active and vibrant city. To achieve that goal, we need to make sure that we have a well-connected and accessible nature park for recreational purposes. There is significant community support for this issue. I would like to thank the principal petitioner, Taryn Langdon, local mum and a relentless advocate on the issue. I also look forward to continuing to work with her and the community to address these issues.
I would like to thank the minister for her response on the issue that she already provided in relation to Mr Parton’s motion earlier in the year and her commitment that the government is looking at short, medium and long-term measures to address the issues. I note that short-term measures have already been put in place. The government has clearly marked drains at the site for vehicles. As this petition has exceeded 500 signatures, I am pleased that it will now be referred to the Standing Committee on Environment and Transport and City Services and to the Minister for Transport and City Services for consideration and a formal response.
MR PARTON (Brindabella) (11.39), by leave: I applaud my good friend Mr Steel for bringing this petition to the Assembly. I also applaud the Tuggeranong Community Council, Taryn and Glenys. This is part of the bread and butter of community councils. These changes at the base of Mount Taylor are well and truly warranted.
What gets up my nose is that we are still just talking about this. As you know, Madam Speaker, I brought a motion to this Assembly in mid-September—that is, 2½ months ago—calling on the government to do much of what was in this petition. We all agreed. There were some slight amendments from Ms Fitzharris that did not water
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