Page 5101 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 26 October 2011
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that it needs to be focusing on—that is, the delivery of local services and local infrastructure. That is very much what this motion is about. It is about saying to the government, to the Assembly and to the community that we value those local services and local infrastructure, in this case, particularly for the people of Gungahlin.
If we look at the first part of the motion, there is no doubt that the transport infrastructure needs of Gungahlin have not been met. We could look at any number of areas. We have said a lot about the way the people of Gungahlin have been treated by the Labor government over 10 years, particularly with things like the GDE. Going back before that to earlier Labor governments, I think the people of Gungahlin have always been treated as a bit of an experiment where the government, the Labor Party, seems to think that they can deliver them substandard services and substandard infrastructure. That has unfortunately been the pattern that has been experienced by the people of Gungahlin. When it comes to these issues of parking, roads, traffic management, arterial roads, public transport, footpaths and bike paths, there has not been the kind of investment that we would want to see and the people of Gungahlin have been let down.
In relation to some of the problems that have been identified, I think Mr Coe has covered them fairly well, but I think that this is a positive motion which, whilst highlighting those failures, sets out where some of those basic, local priorities for the people of Gungahlin should be. And the Canberra Liberals are committed to these.
Looking at alternative arrangements for bus traffic in the town centre, a plan to provide park-and-ride users with car parking away from prime retail parking is important. It is important that we balance the needs of commuters and traders and I think that is what this part of the motion seeks to do.
Additional on-street car parking at Gungahlin Place, I think, is a very sensible measure. If you talk to the businesses at Gungahlin, they will tell you that it is very hard to get some of that short-term, on-street car parking. It fills up very quickly and it is difficult to find. There is not enough of it. So I think that would be a positive for the area, as would providing additional car parking at Yerrabi.
I note that the Greens are amending it somewhat. I think that some of the amendments are not improvements, but I think the Canberra Liberals are prepared to live with those amendments. I think the government should be looking at providing additional car parking at Yerrabi. I do not know that there is a great need to further consider the matter, but sometimes in order to get most of a good motion up, some allowances need to be made.
In conclusion, the Canberra Liberals remain committed to better outcomes for all Canberrans in their local areas. The people of Gungahlin, I think, are a part of the ACT that has not been well served. They deserve better than what they are getting. The Canberra Liberals are committed to providing that. We will work very hard in opposition and we look forward to the opportunity to hopefully work very hard in government to deliver on the real priorities and the real needs of the people of Gungahlin.
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