Posted on 01/04/2016
Calls received on air
Directorate: CMTEDD
Issue: The caller was a Taxi Driver in Canberra and asked how the Government knows that Uber is helping public transport in Canberra? He is paying $10500 for registration and CTP insurance at $9500, whereas Uber is operating at $2000 per annum expenses. They don’t have proper insurance and are charging high rates in peak times. How can you tell it is helping public transport and is a level playing field? The caller also noted he was concerned that Uber was putting taxi drivers out of business. The caller noted that the Chief Minister advised the insurance premium was gone, however the caller said he still had to pay $2670 for 3 months registration, the privately owned taxi plates are going out of business as they cannot handle it. How can the Chief Minister say everything is alright?
Response: The Deputy Chief Minister advised that the ACT was the first place in Australia to legalise ridesharing. This was done as these technologies are going to come into our economy anyway, and it is better to recognise that there is innovation in our economy and bring them in a way that is regulated and safe for those that use the service. The Deputy Chief Minister also noted that the Government has slashed registration fees, licence fees and significantly reduced insurance premiums for taxi operators when ridesharing entered the market. The Government has made sure that ridesharing has addressed insurance, safety and regulatory issues for the safety of those passengers. Ridesharing, taxi services, Uber, along with mass transit services such as ACTION buses and light rail, are all part of assisting with the transport task in Canberra, to move people around our city. That is why the Government stresses an integrated transport plan for our city through the Transport Canberra initiative.
The Deputy Chief Minister noted there was a change in the business model and a change in the industry as a consequence of competition, similar to video shops going out of business due to DVDs and streaming services. It is part of the technological change that is occurring in our economy and the Government has sought to adapt to these changes in the fairest way possible. By significantly reducing costs for taxi operators around CTP, insurance and lease fees, the Government has sought to assist in the transition, but the economic transition cannot be ignored and is potentially very beneficial to passengers.
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: The caller raised a question about African lovegrass spreading wildly through Belconnen. The caller noted over the last couple of years it has spread substantially along the verges and median strips of Belconnen Way, Coulter Drive, Ginninderra Drive, John Cleland Crescent; whereas two years ago there were just a few patches here and there. The caller was wondering what the Government proposes to do to address this, noting the main way to stop the spread was washing down mowers prior to moving to a pristine area and also mowing when the weed isn’t seeding.
Response: The Deputy Chief Minister noted that African Lovegrass was a difficult problem and it is very difficult to control. The Deputy Chief Minister advised that the Government does follow the mowing practices the caller mentioned, ensuring mowing vehicles are washed down and are as decontaminated as possible after treating African love grass; and the Government also tries to mow at times when they are not seeding. The difficulty is that it grows very quickly, around 500mm in 1-2 weeks. This can leave areas looking very untidy. There is a surge mowing program to respond to that, but regrettably it is a difficult weed to control. The Government seeks to manage that by trying to limit the spread and maintaining the surge mowing program to keep the growth down. On arterial roads the Government mows on a 5 weekly cycle and every 4 weeks in the suburbs.
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: The caller phoned regarding bus shelters at the Westfield Belconnen interchange. The caller noted that they had caught public transport for the last 50 years and wanted to say thank you for the flexi bus as it is fantastic. The caller said that at the interchange when all the buses are lined up it is difficult to see the appropriate buses. Furthermore, our extreme Canberra climate makes sitting on the seats at the interchange difficult, as sitting on those seats is too cold in winter and too hot in summer. The caller said more shelter would be appreciated.
Response: The Deputy Chief Minister said the issue of buses at the interchange will be fed back to ACTION operations to ensure that drivers position their buses so passengers can clearly see the route number. The Deputy Chief Minister agreed Canberra faces some climate extremes, but explained that providing reasonable shelter for public transport could also be challenging because the facilities need to be designed so they are safe as well, and patrons can’t get trapped in an enclosed space. The Deputy Chief Minister advised the caller that their point would be considered when designing facilities in future.
Directorate: Health
Issue: The caller noted that their mother had been in and out of hospital over the last 6 months and was currently in hospital. As a result of permanent damage to her brain, she will never be fully steady on her feet. The caller had applied to have rails installed in her house on the stairway and bathroom, and this was accepted by the service provider on 10 February 2016. Despite constant follow-ups, the caller heard nothing until yesterday when contact was made with the caller’s sister who was advised there was nothing the service provider could do about the rails. The caller advised that the last person they were dealing with was ACT Health and Community Care. The mother was in her own home, not an ACT Housing property. The caller wanted greater transparency around these service providers. When the caller has tried to gain a phone number, ACT Health and Community Care only have an email address and there doesn’t seem to be anything they can do. The caller was dissatisfied that the service provider accepts a job and is unable to complete it in a reasonable timeframe. The caller was unsure if the community service provider was a government or a non government organisation.
Response: The Deputy Chief Minister noted that the caller’s mother and family were going through a difficult time adjusting to those changes. The Deputy Chief Minister said he was very supportive as the Minister for Health of making sure people are able to transition out of hospital into appropriately supported accommodation arrangements, as it is better for people themselves, and for our hospital service. The Deputy Chief Minister said the appropriate area of Government will follow it up, noting that the Government does have a very strong program dealing with modifications in the home to assist people to return to the home, as it is in everyone’s interests.
OUTCOME: Health contacted the caller who indicated that there was no further action required as the works had already been completed. Health discussed the process involved in arranging the works with the caller to assist in preventing such delays in future.
Directorate: Access Canberra (Parking Review)/TAMS/EPD (Parking Coordinator General)
Issue: The caller phoned about inadequate parking next to the private Philip medical centre, near Colby court. The caller advised that their daughter had to wait five and a half hours to see a doctor there on Tuesday and consequently came out to find a parking fine on her car. The caller advised that there is a very small car park, which is paid parking, that fills up very quickly and on the street there is only 1-2 hour parking and people frequently have to wait a lot longer than 2 hours to be seen by a doctor.
Response: The Deputy Chief Minister noted the caller’s concern and highlighted that the medical centre is a private practice, not operated or run by the Government, and their staffing and waiting times are a private matter for that business. The Government is focused on making sure parking is available for shoppers, in particular, to support business in Phillip. The Government has recently introduced paid parking into the Philip trades area, as previously lots of people who work in Woden were parking in Phillip and walking across to Woden to avoid having to pay for parking closer to the plaza. By putting in paid parking the Government is actually trying to free up spaces for short-term visitors, rather than all day parking, and this has achieved that outcome, but it is still time limited. Regrettably that will mean that people will need to keep an eye on how long they are staying and if they feel they are going to over-stay they will need to duck out and top up. It is again a part of a growing city that we have to manage our supply of car parking, and putting paid parking in Phillip is about making sure that there are more short terms spots available, discouraging the long stay parkers from avoiding paid parking.
Directorate: TAMS/ACT Policing
Issue: The caller raised concerns with the intersection between Kingsford Smith Drive and the right hand turn onto Kuringa Drive into Fraser. The caller advised there is a stop sign that people don’t obey. There is not a big enough slip lane for turning vehicles, as the people at the stop sign are trying to see who is turning and who is going to continue on further down onto Tillyard and they can’t see what is happening. Further up from that intersection is the turn into Evatt, which also needs to be widened. The caller asked if that area could be looked at.
Response: The Deputy Chief Minister highlighted that these issues are the consequence of growth in the Gungahlin region and more traffic moving to and from that side of the city. At the moment the Government is making upgrades to Owen Dixon Drive, which is the next intersection down. The Deputy Chief Minister said he would ask TAMS to contact the caller and advise of the work timeframes on the intersection further up the road, noting that right now Owen Dixon Drive is the priority. He would also ask the Police to make sure people are stopping at the Kingsford Smith / Kuringa Drive intersection. If there is a stop sign and it is being disobeyed, that is very dangerous.
OUTCOME: An officer from TAMS contacted the caller and advised that the Kingsford Smith / Kuringa Drive intersection has been part of a previous Federal Black Spot investigation, which resulted in the change from a Give Way sign to a Stop sign. Recent evaluation of the crash data shows that the number of crashes has significantly reduced. Given this, Roads ACT has no immediate plans to implement further upgrades to this intersection.
SMS/TEXT
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: I know there is a bus replacements program underway, is there thought being given to acquiring more smaller economical buses to provide the suburban spokes in the hub?Response: The Deputy Chief Minister advised that this issue comes up quite often, the key point on this is that on the face of it, a smaller bus is cheaper and therefore more economical. However, the most significant ongoing cost of operating a bus is the cost of paying the driver, and this doesn’t vary from bus to bus. That is the key cost in operating after purchasing. The other issue is, the greater the range of vehicles in the fleet, the broader the range of spare parts you need to service the vehicle. This actually increases the overall costs of running the bus service. The Deputy Chief Minister said trying to standardise our fleet reduces the range of vehicles available, and reduces the number of spare parts, which allows us to reduce service delivery costs. While it looks attractive on the surface, there is false economy in having more types of vehicles, as the main cost is the driver.
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: Why is there no bus to the airport?
Response: The Deputy Chief Minister advised that there is a bus to the airport, noting it was a privately run service funded by the Canberra Airport as the airport is not a public road network and ACTION buses cannot travel on that property. The Deputy Chief Minister advised that we will be looking further at this, the issue is that the airport has grown to a level beyond what was planned for the city and it makes the provision of public transport difficult, but there a service.
Directorate: Capital Metro
Issue: Wouldn’t a dedicated bus lane on Northbourne also help with congestion, aren’t there still costs associated with the light rail being kept secret?
Response: The Deputy Chief Minister said this has been considered in detail prior to a decision on light rail. A study was undertaken into this 6-7 years ago which is accessible on the Capital Metro website. There are two issues with a bus transit lane on Northbourne. Firstly, if you are going to build it on the median strip, it means converting the median strip to a two way road including tree removal along the median strip. There are also significant planning and aesthetic issues with building a road in the median strip, and that is not something we believe the National Capital Authority would agree to because of the landscape quality they want to maintain along that road. The beauty with light rail is that once it is built, you can restore the landscape. The second issue is that, yes, we could put rapid transit lanes north and south bound but that would reduce the number of available lanes for cars, which would worsen congestion.
Directorate: Capital Metro
Issue: My question is same as last #CMTB 'What will be the full cost of a LRT network for CBR & how long will it take to build?'
Response: The Deputy Chief Minister advised that the way a light rail network will be built is the same way as a road network, which is that it will be an incremental process. Each element of a network will be assessed individually on its merits in terms of the cost and benefit. So in the same way that we build a road network, when a major road network decision is made, for example the Majura parkway, there is an initial assessment and then it is decided whether to build it. We do not cost building a road network across our city in the terms suggested. The Deputy Chief Minister highlighted it is an incremental process, and the Government will be taking to the next election a commitment to expand light rail, looking at locations both south of the lake and possibly Russell or the Airport, but there will be a further business case behind that determining whether or not that investment decision should be made. Over the past 10 years the Territory has spent over $1 billion dollars on its road network and no one has blinked an eye. Over the next 20 years the cost of light rail will be less than 1% of the budget and it is a piece of infrastructure that will deliver frequent and reliable services from Gungahlin to the City, remaining at a consistent 20-25 minutes even with population growth.
Directorate: CMTEDD
Issue: Concerned that current Government proposals for regulating ride sharing don't require Disability Discrimination Act compliance. Also raised concerns that we could be left with no wheelchair taxis if Uber takes over.
Response: The Deputy Chief Minister appreciated the concern, but noted that we need to be very clear that our Disability Access Taxis are managed under a different regime. The Government already charges a low level of fees for wheelchair accessible taxis, so they do not pay anywhere near the same amount as a non accessible taxi would pay. On a very different basis, the Government also has a dedicated call service for those taxis to allow people who need disability access to get their taxi as quickly as possible. The Deputy Chief Minister reassured the caller that being left with no wheelchair accessible taxis will not happen. The Government intervenes in the market, effectively subsidising it in a number of ways, to ensure wheelchair accessible taxis are available. The Deputy Chief Minister noted he envisages this continuing as Uber has a different business model.
Directorate: Treasury
Issue: Can you please advise why some people with MS are denied access to the heating and cooling rebates available as it is recognised that they suffer heat and cold stress. When the ACT Government offers free ACTION transport to and from Manuka oval for football games I question your priorities.
Response: The Deputy Chief Minister said that of course Governments have to do lots of things and prioritise different issues. Public transport to and from the football services and other public events is very important in terms of managing traffic arrangements. The Deputy Chief Minister assured the caller that while the services are free for users of the bus services to the football, they are actually paid for by the AFL and it is a reimbursement arrangement with the Territory government.
OUTCOME: An ACT Revenue Office officer contacted the caller the previous fortnight to discuss concessions.
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: The toilets at O’Connor shops badly need a makeover.
Response: The Deputy Chief Minister advised that we would look into this, noting that they are older toilets and we may need to have a closer look at the cleaning schedule.
OUTCOME: The O’Connor shops public toilets have been included on the list of public toilets identified for an upgrade and will be assessed against other priority works for funding as part of future budget processes.
Directorate: Capital Metro
Issue: Can you please ask the Minister to explain how the light rail pays for itself over 20 years given that the published business plan estimated a 120% return on the investment. Will a bus only network pay for itself like light rail?
Response: The Deputy Chief Minister advised the light rail delivers a return to the ACT economy of $1.20 for every dollar that is spent on the project for the construction. So it is beneficial to the economy as a whole and delivers broader economic benefit than the cost to the economy of building it. The Deputy Chief Minister also highlighted that over the term of the light rail contract (which is approximately 25 years), the Government will spend less than 1% of its total expenditure over that time on light rail. It will spend 20-30 times that amount on Health services and Education over the same period. Less than 1% of the ACT Budget over the operating term will be spent on light rail. The Deputy Chief Minister noted the further benefit that comes from a light rail network is the number of buses that will be freed up to be used in other parts of the ACT.
Directorate: Economic Development
Issue: The AFL receives ACT Government funding; ACT Taxpayers are paying for the free bus rides.
Response: The Deputy Chief Minister advised that the AFL charter the buses for the Manuka games. The Deputy Chief Minister noted that the caller may be making the point that the Government pays some subsidy to have AFL in Canberra and that is true, but it is in the same way that we support other sporting codes such as the Raiders, the Capitals, and the Brumbies. They all receive support because they are part of the fabric of our city; and they are events and teams that people want to see here in Canberra and it wouldn’t happen, nor be viable, without some level of Government support.
Directorate: Health
Issue: The parking situation around the Women and Children’s hospital, which has been described as appalling. There is no long stay parking access for a woman in labour, the maximum stay is 6 hours in the multi storey. Anyone who is attending the hospital and spending hours, if not days, during the birth process can do nothing but resign themselves to parking tickets. This seems to be blatant discrimination against expectant couples and revenue raising gone mad.
Response: The Deputy Chief Minister said firstly there is quite a lot of public parking at Canberra Hospital but we are constrained in where it can be located on the campus due to the physical design and layout. So yes, at the end of the campus where the women and children’s hospital is, there is limited car parking but there is a very large public car park at the other end of the campus which accommodates in total 1250 public car parking spaces across the campus. The simple day-to-day management of this is, if a person overstays due to an emergency and a parking ticket is issued, then it is waived in those circumstances. It is very easy for people to come back and say my partner was in labour, I got this while I was helping and being with her, the ticket will be waived. We do take a very compassionate approach. We do have to manage parking on the campus as well, but if it is an emergency there is a way of dealing with that so you don’t have to worry about a ticket after the event. If it is not an emergency, there are over 1250 general parking spaces on the campus.
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: Please ask the Minister who looks after traffic signs during road works? For example - Wed 11am Drake Brockman Drive, Belconnen Survey workers put 40kph signs up but by 2pm had departed leaving signs up.
OUTCOME: An officer from TAMS contacted the caller and advised that temporary traffic management, which includes speed reduction, needs to be applied in accordance with the authorised traffic plan to ensure it is effective and adhered to by motorists. The officer advised the caller that TAMS reinforces to all contractors the need to manage controls effectively for the safety of workers and road users, and that TAMS has followed up with the contractor concerned.
Directorate: TAMS/ACT Policing
Issue: At the Barry drive end of Marcus Clarke there is a no right tum sign into an underground parking area - no body obeys this - maybe a traffic island is required or more policing?
OUTCOME: An officer from TAMS contacted the caller and agreed that turning right at this location is not appropriate or safe given the volume of traffic and activity in the area, particularly during the morning peak. Enforcement in the morning peak will be requested through ACT Policing.
Directorate: Access Canberra (Parking Operations)
Issue: Talking about parking, when is the govt going to get serious about policing the people who overstay the 3 hour parking around Ainslie Primary School? If you really want people using public transport and reducing the number of cars In the city, fine people. Parking inspectors operate 7 days a week 6am to 10pm in Sydney...there is a lesson there.
OUTCOME: Access Canberra Parking Operations contacted the caller and explained that Canberra parking inspectors do work nights, weekends and events, and conduct regular patrols through the suburbs, including around schools.
Directorate: Economic Development
Issue: Could you please ask whether the government will take notice of the high degree of opposition in the consultation website to the proposed new suburb in the nature reserve in Tuggeranong? Is there a chance really that it won’t go ahead?
OUTCOME: An officer from Economic Development contacted the caller and explained that the initial feedback stage is the first stage of a more involved and long term engagement process. The initial stage informs the government to better understand what issues are important to stakeholders and the community, and better understand the themes the government needs to look at more closely. In addition to the feedback provided through the 'have your say' website, the government has met, and is continuing to meet with, stakeholders including community and environment groups to get a better understanding of the issues. It was explained that before any development in the area is approved, there are a number of site investigations which will need to occur, in addition to the community engagement.