Page 569 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 17 February 2016
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Amendment agreed to.
Motion, as amended, agreed to.
Adjournment
Motion (by Mr Gentleman) proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Kingsford Smith Drive
MRS DUNNE (Ginninderra) (6.30): In the last few months my office has received complaints from constituents regarding the level of noise and the lack of noise buffers on Kingsford Smith Drive. One notable complaint was made by a man responding to one of the leaflets I hand out inviting the public to make known any issues or problems they are experiencing. This man had attempted previously to make his complaints known but had not received any response from the government.
The constituent mentioned specifically the noise that emanates from the increasing number of trucks, semi-trailers and B-doubles that use Kingsford Smith Drive. I wrote about this complaint to the then Minister for Roads and Parking; in response he said that Kingsford Smith Drive is an arterial road and, as such, “was designed to carry large volumes of traffic with a relatively high percentage of heavy vehicles”. It was also stated that “the level of traffic noise falls below the desirable maximum level of 65 decibels”.
That may well be so, but I remind the minister that Kingsford Smith Drive, as it runs through Spence and past Melba and Flynn, as well as being an arterial road also runs past many dwellings. The occupants of those dwellings, whilst needing to recognise the role of the road, are also entitled to some quiet enjoyment of their properties. Noisy traffic, particularly if it occurs at night, impinges on that quiet enjoyment.
The minister could have instructed his directorate to undertake further noise and traffic studies in response to my constituents’ concerns, but he did not, even though the traffic on the road is increasing.
Like Kingsford Smith Drive, Copland Drive is experiencing an increase in traffic due to the expansion of Gungahlin. A traffic study was done last year on Copland Drive. I ask: why did the minister not think to study both roads together with a view to finding a holistic solution to the problem?
The constituent also claimed that B-doubles have been using the road. I understand that B-doubles are not permitted to use Kingsford Smith Drive between Kuringa Drive and Ginninderra Drive. The minister gave no undertaking to investigate this matter. In short, the minister and this government have left the residents along Kingsford Smith Drive high and dry in their arrogant attitude of no care and no responsibility.
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