Page 5091 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 26 October 2011
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
coverage for passengers in bus terminal facilities were on display for public comment in August 2011. Feedback from the public and from businesses is currently being considered to finalise the arrangements for public transport within the Gungahlin town centre. The government has already provided funding to construct improved public transport facilities, including better bus stations, in the 2011-12 financial year. The information on this project is provided on the Transport for Canberra website and I would draw Mr Coe’s attention to it. This will be further updated once the feasibility is completed later in 2011.
Mr Coe raised in his motion the issue of park and ride. The draft transport for Canberra policy which was released earlier this month includes a proposed park-and-ride policy. This policy focuses on locating new park-and-ride facilities on Rapid transport corridors, like the Red and Blue Rapid routes, but away from town centres and areas where park and ride may compete with the short-stay parking needs of local businesses. It is, of course, important for them to provide facilities for their customers. The government has already committed $4.2 million in previous budgets to expand the network of park-and-ride facilities across the city.
A study was conducted in 2010-11 which found that sites at Well Station Drive-Flemington Road and Flemington Road near Exhibition Park would be the most suitable and viable locations for park-and-ride facilities for Gungahlin residents. The EPIC park and ride is now under construction and is expected to be completed in December this year. These park and rides will become even more important as the government considers further strengthening rapid transit options through its current investigation of light rail and bus rapid transit options between Gungahlin town centre and the city.
Turning to the issue of managing parking at the town centre, parking management within the town centre needs to be consistent with the ACT’s draft transport strategy, which focuses on managing parking demand rather than the old style of predict and provide on the assumption that most trips will be by car. For an active, vibrant town centre, spaces need to be created for people to shop and move around. This is one of the most important principles behind the design of the Gungahlin town centre and its master plan, which was created in consultation with the community and local businesses.
Short-stay on-street parking may still be required for specific businesses such as the medical centre. However, the traffic planning for Gungahlin and the principle of places for people means that retail parking will increasingly be provided as off-street facilities in the town centre. Indeed, that has been the direction of the town centre as it has gone through its various stages of development. The government will manage the premium nature of on-street spaces of the town centre and prioritise them for taxis, loading zones, disabled parking and short-stay parking.
To further manage the parking needs of the town centre, draft variations to the territory plan DV 300 identified four sites in the north-west, north-east and south of the town centre where temporary parking could be provided. Two of these sites, south of the existing retail developments on Hibberson Street in the town centre, are located either side of Gungahlin Place and are within comfortable walking distance of the
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video