Page 1954 - Week 07 - Thursday, 13 August 2020
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Roads—maintenance
MRS KIKKERT: My question is to the Minister for Roads and Active Travel. Minister, following last week’s rain, many dozens—possibly even hundreds—of new potholes have opened up in streets all across the Belconnen area. Experts state that the appearance of potholes is a sign that regular road maintenance is behind schedule. Four years ago, an annual report noted a “backlog of resurfacing works throughout the territory” and added that meeting annual targets was merely “maintaining the backlog”. The following year, the Auditor-General reported that “this backlog amounts to approximately two million square metres of road pavement needing maintenance” and added that “reducing this backlog will likely take years”. Minister, what is the current size of the territory’s pothole maintenance backlog?
MR STEEL: I thank the member for her question. I will take the very specific question on notice. I have certainly noticed some potholes forming as a result of the rain. Of course, the wear and tear on our roads is caused by a number of factors. One is the sun; others are water and rain.
We have had a significant amount of rain over the last few weeks, which has meant that a number of potholes have opened up, not only in Belconnen but also, I have noticed, on the Tuggeranong Parkway and Sulwood Drive. I have asked Transport Canberra and City Services to address those as a matter of priority.
I have recently announced a new patching program which will be funded as part of the government’s stimulus package and which will lead into our road resurfacing program, which will be commencing just ahead of spring, as it does every year, which makes sure that we can resurface our roads and make sure that our preventative maintenance program is in place.
MRS KIKKERT: Minister, how many new potholes have arisen following the recent rainfall in the Belconnen region?
MR STEEL: I thank the member for her question. That is a question that I have asked the Transport Canberra and City Services Directorate myself, and I am currently looking at how we can address this as a matter of priority.
MS LAWDER: Minister, why is it that our roads in Canberra are so poorly maintained that potholes appear every time there is serious rainfall in the region?
MR STEEL: They are not.
Legislative Assembly—members’ staff
MRS DUNNE: My question is to Mr Gentleman. Minister, can you confirm that the recently convicted paedophile Bradley Burch has previously worked in your office?
MR GENTLEMAN: No, he has not.
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