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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 9 Hansard (21 August) . . Page.. 2768 ..

Urban infrastructure

(Question No 236)

Ms Dundas asked the Minister for Urban Services, upon notice:

In relation to the maintenance of urban infrastructure, particularly in Latham:

1. To ensure safety to residents and visitors, how regularly does the Department of Urban Services inspect, across the Territory:

(a) pedestrian footpaths;

(b) road guttering;

(c) cycleways;

(d) street lighting;

2. How recently have the above items been inspected in the suburb of Latham;

3. At previous inspections, has the Department of Urban Services noted any dangerous deterioration in the urban infrastructure of Latham;

4. If yes to part (3), have these problems been rectified; and

5. If no to part (4), when are these scheduled to be completed.

Mr Wood: The answers to the member's questions are as follows:

1. (a) (b) (c) (d): I have received advice from Roads ACT that inspections are either planned or reactive for the maintenance of assets across the Territory. These assets are very extensive and unfortunately resources are limited for inspections and maintenance. Not withstanding this fact, Roads ACT recognises their duty of care to the community to maintain a safe operational road and path network.

Roads ACT has adopted a number of strategies for maintenance inspections to best utilise the available resources. Generally, the extent of inspection is based on the type of asset, its usage and the associated risks if a failure occurs.

Regular planned inspections are carried out for major assets such as territorial roads, bridges and stormwater channels. Planned inspections are also carried out for pedestrian paths around major shopping areas such as Civic, and all street lighting. The frequency of these inspections varies from monthly to biannual depending on the asset. The inspections are carried out by Roads ACT officers, consultants and the contractors actual, Totalcare and Cityscape.

Reactive inspections are carried out for minor assets such as footpaths, kerb and guttering, cycleways and the municipal stormwater system. These inspections are generated by contractors carrying out routine work, random audits by Roads ACT officers or community requests. The majority of these inspections arise from community requests. Roads ACT has established a hot line and actively encourages the community to report asset problems.

2. With respect to the suburb of Latham, I am advised by Roads ACT that in the past two years at least 107 reactive inspections have been carried out for asset maintenance. This includes 19 for paths, 2 for kerb and gutters and 4 for street

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