Page 485 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 19 February 2020
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MR GUPTA: What are the advantages of wire-free light rail for stage 2?
MR STEEL: I thank Mr Gupta for his question. As part of the referral we made to the commonwealth last year, which I referenced in the answer to his first question, we have announced that we will be undertaking wire-free running as part of stage 2A, which offers many advantages, the major one being that it has a narrower track slab, as it does not require poles to carry catenary wires.
London Circuit is much narrower than Northbourne Avenue, and it is the only section of our light rail network to feature on-road light rail. We want to ensure that there is enough space for vehicles, light rail, pedestrians and cyclists to interact safely along that particular part of the corridor. Wire-free light rail also contributes to maintaining an accessible, attractive, high-quality and distinctive city centre. Our heritage buildings around London Circuit and the broader parliamentary corridor will be unimpeded by poles and wires. Along the Commonwealth Avenue section, wire-free light rail will maintain the heritage vistas from Parliament House through that corridor, comply with the recommendations of the parliamentary joint committee inquiry for light rail through the parliamentary zone, and assist in obtaining National Capital Authority planning approval so that we can get on with the work of building this important project.
To support wire-free running, new and existing light rail vehicles will be fitted with onboard energy storage on the roof, and will have regenerative braking capability. Our government is getting on with the work of extending the benefits of light rail to other parts of the city, and this particular part will be wire free
MR PETTERSSON: Minister, can you tell us about the median strip treatment on Commonwealth Avenue planned for light rail stage 2A?
MR STEEL: I thank Mr Pettersson for his question and his interest in light rail, with Mr Gupta, people who are using light rail on a regular basis and see that it is being used. We want to extend those benefits down to Woden. We want to make sure that as we do so we are maintaining the current character of the Commonwealth Avenue gateway to our city from the south. To do that we will be building a track slab with grass tracks. Some members of the community might have seen this in Victoria Square in Adelaide. It looks very attractive and will maintain the character of this important corridor. We are continuing to work with the National Capital Authority on the broader landscape design for the corridor. I look forward to updating the Assembly as we progress to make sure that we extend the benefits that we have seen from light rail stage 1 in places like Gungahlin to the rest of the city and particularly the south side.
Housing—affordability
MRS KIKKERT: My question is to the Minister for Housing and Suburban Development. Minister, a 72-year-old constituent in west Belconnen lives on a fixed income of $894 per week. She has spent months desperately trying to find a modest one-bedroom flat to rent, but the handful of properties in her price range have all been
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