Page 2634 - Week 08 - Thursday, 14 August 2014
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There are many elements of the budget I could speak to tonight. Certainly, roads always come up as a significant issue in the portfolio. I note Mr Coe’s comments about frustration with roadworks. I do not entirely disagree; in fact I share that frustration at times. It is certainly an area that I have spoken with Roads ACT about, and have asked them to be mindful of making sure they have a real driver focus when it comes to thinking about that, and making sure that reduced speed zones are the appropriate length—not too far, and obviously not too short so as to compromise safety. People are willing to respect a reduced speed zone when they can see that it relates to some actual roadworks. If it is too far away, they will ignore it and therefore we get a counterproductive outcome. Timing and coordination of roadworks is an ongoing area requiring improvement, and on that point I certainly agree with Mr Coe that it is an area that needs continued focus.
In terms of Gundaroo Drive in particular, Mr Coe spoke about that. Works are underway. The advice to me certainly is that the upgrade of the William Slim Drive-Barton Highway intersection is integral and it is the necessary first step in those works. From an engineering point of view, I am advised that it is the first step that needs to be taken. It certainly sits in the traffic system as the number one black spot in Canberra. So from that point of view it certainly warrants first attention.
The rest of the works on Gundaroo Drive are sequenced after that. This is one where the community may end up feeling a bit frustrated, because as the works progress along different stages it will feel like it is taking a long time, even if each stage gets finished. I hope that the residents of Gungahlin in particular will notice improvements as those works progress.
In terms of other areas related to roads, again, I note Mr Coe’s comments on the slurry surface or micro-sealing trial. I certainly heard the feedback from the community about the frustration about car parks in shopping centres in particular. That is why I have asked Roads to look at alternative options. I am hopeful and optimistic that this will provide a good solution and that we will see a better outcome in car parks than some of those we have seen in recent times. I acknowledge the community frustration on those matters. Micro-surfacing is more expensive, but it is probably money well spent in some key locations such as shopping centre car parks.
When it comes to footpaths, I would like to reassure members that I am certainly committed to getting our footpath network upgraded as quickly as we can. Significant effort goes into keeping paths up to a good standard. Having formerly been the Minister for Ageing, I am very mindful of the importance, particularly for our older Canberrans, of ensuring that footpaths are in a good state.
Of course, we are an ageing city, and stuff does start to wear down. There is a steady program of upgrading and fixing footpaths across the city. Suburbs are inspected on a proactive basis, as well as having the reactive work that goes on when people report things. There are 27,000 square metres of community paths, including off-road cycling paths, that are replaced or resurfaced each year, arising from both those programmed inspections and referrals by members of the public. That is in addition to the grinding machines treating over 17,000 linear metres of cracks and raised edges each year.
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