Page 181 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 12 February 2020
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footpath for residents of Lawson to walk to the bus stop on the other side of Ginninderra Drive.
One Lawson resident pointed out that although she lives in a development with 43 units, there are only two parking bays for visitors. Meanwhile on-street parking has been intentionally limited, with parking spaces in streets such as Narrambla Terrace, Pipeclay Street and Solong Street separated into two pairs rather than continuous.
Another frustrated resident talked about how many of the dwellings in Lawson are being used as share houses with three, four, or even more adults living in each one. Share housing inevitably increases the need for parking. This is not a surprising circumstance, as Lawson is next door to the University of Canberra. At the same time, a quick search of the Allhomes website earlier this week revealed the following in Lawson, to give just a few examples: a four-bedroom house for rent with parking for only one car; a three-bedroom townhouse for rent, also with parking for only one car; and several houses for sale, each with six or seven bedrooms but private parking for only two cars.
Lawson residents are deeply frustrated. Just last week I spoke with a family who told me frankly that they regret building a home there. The Labor-Greens government was happy to take their money, they said, but now the government does not want to hear from them about any problems they are facing, including insufficient designated parking.
Lawson residents are also worried. Bad as things are now, their fear is that this government will allow Lawson stage 2, with its even greater densities, to multiply the problems readily apparent in Lawson stage 1. If residents and guests already cannot find anywhere to park, what will happen when close to another 1,000 dwellings are added to the mix?
My motion today is a straightforward response to these frustrations and fears. Lawson residents expect their government to increase the amount of designated parking in their suburb to alleviate the nightmare they are currently facing every single day.
That adequate parking was not planned for in the first place is a universally acknowledged failure that desperately needs to be addressed. Beyond that, Lawson residents want an assurance that the current ACT government will make sure that adequate designated parking will be provided for both residents and visitors in Lawson stage 2.
These are not outrageous demands. Canberrans rightly expect their government to provide the basic services that make life reasonable and liveable, and when mistakes are made they expect their government to acknowledge and then fix the problem. A government that refuses to do so is no longer fit to govern. I therefore commend this motion to the Assembly.
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella—Minister for Advanced Technology and Space Industries, Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Minister for Planning and Land Management and Minister for Police and Emergency Services) (3.41): I thank
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