Page 2952 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 14 August 2019
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I thank Mr Pettersson for his motion today. He has highlighted an important issue, and I commend my amendment to the Assembly.
MS LAWDER (Brindabella) (5.45): I am happy to rise to speak to this motion today. I asked some of my constituents in Tuggeranong how they feel about the success of light rail, and I have a few comments to provide on their behalf. Mr Rattenbury made the point that it has attracted people to use public transport. The motion calls on the minister to respond to public response to light rail. That is pretty hard to do when you do not have light rail or buses. It is hard to use public transport when there are no buses provided.
We talk about an integrated transport network. In large parts of Tuggeranong at the moment, that seems to be pretty much like walking—walking using the expedition planner, which recommends that you walk for one, two or 12 kilometres to your nearest bus stop. We have lost regular bus services. We have lost school bus services. We are having trouble getting weekend services. With respect to what some of my constituents have said, Mr U of Gordon said:
Have to change bus in the morning. No expresso. Now have to go to Tuggeranong and swap buses. Why have Tuggeranong buses changed? No light rail in Tuggeranong.
Ms R of Wanniassa said:
Please reinstate Wanniassa suburban buses. Many like me suffering due to close by bus stops removed with no reasonable alternative offered.
Mr R of Richardson said:
Used to catch 765 from Civic. Now have to change buses but the bus via Monaro Highway doesn’t allow enough leeway for peak hour traffic delays on Monaro Highway.
For these people and dozens, if not hundreds, more people, there is no integrated transport network. Potentially, there is no transport, let alone a network. They are left with bus stops closed and bus services cancelled. It is difficult for them to get to their appointments.
I have heard countless stories of people who have to catch several buses, but the first bus arrives after the next bus has left about 30 seconds beforehand. I am not sure what part of that is “integrated”. I am not sure what part of a network missing a bus by 30 seconds and then having to wait 40 minutes displays. I am not sure what closing bus stops and cancelling bus services means for transport.
Many of my constituents are bemused—and I have said this in this place several times—as to why we had wholesale, large-scale changes to the bus network in Tuggeranong to reflect the light rail from Gungahlin to the city. People may have been happy with some minor changes, but such large-scale changes have left them isolated.
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