Posted on 13/05/2016
Calls received on air
Directorate: Health
Issue: The caller phoned on behalf of a group ACT Residents with spinal cord injuries who recently had a meeting and noted that there was no specialist gym in Canberra for those confined to a wheel chair. When they leave hospital, there is no way to keep fit, losing body tone and making it hard to lead a normal healthy life. The caller said that now all the rehabilitation facilities will be moving to the University of Canberra Public Hospital, it is a opportune time to start planning for such a facility. The caller noted that Spinal Cord Injury Australia has set up a facility like that across all capital cities in Australia but not in Canberra. They have trained staff and special equipment that people in wheelchairs are able to access. The caller asked if the Chief Minister would support establishing such a facility.
Response:The Chief Minister advised that he would follow up with the Health Directorate on what was proposed for the rehabilitation facilities at the new University of Canberra Public Hospital.
OUTCOME: ACT Health contacted the caller and provided a summary of the University of Canberra Public Hospital (UCPH) project. The caller is participating in the Spinal Injury ACT Support Group, and ACT Health has offered to speak at the Support Group should the members need further information on UCPH. The caller was advised that rehabilitation services for spinal cord injuries will be provided at UCPH.
ACT Health currently provides rehabilitation for neurological injuries, such as spinal cord injuries. These services will be provided at the UCPH as inpatient rehabilitation, and through the day service/outpatient services and community rehabilitation services.
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: The caller asked about a the lack of information relating to the upgrade to the Pine Forest Mountain bike tracks, noting that residents are keen to see maps. There was a meeting with some departmental officers who promised maps but haven't delivered them. The caller noted that the residents were holding another meeting in the coming weeks and wanted a commitment to where the bike paths will be created/upgraded and how often they will be used, for what and by whom, noting these were the residents of Isaacs and O'Malley's main concerns.
Response: The Chief Minister said that someone would be in contact with the caller in advance of the next meeting, noting that if the maps were promised, they should be delivered.
OUTCOME: The caller was contacted by a TAMS officer and said that maps of the bike trails had been circulated and a meeting was being organised for Wednesday evening.
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: The caller raised an issue with the signage at the Canberra airport, noting that the signage isn't clear and they got stuck in the wrong lane this morning when dropping off a passenger at the airport. The caller clarified he was speaking about entrance into the departures area, and that the signage issue preceded the Majura Parkway roadworks.
Response: The Chief Minister said that TAMS are undertaking a full audit of the signage in the precinct, following all of the construction work and all of the lane changes associated with the Majura Parkway, and they will be looking to address any confusion. The Chief Minister said that someone from TAMS would get in contact with the caller to talk through the particular issue. The Chief Minister advised that there is also a working group with the airport on these types of issues and that the caller's concerns would be raised.
OUTCOME: On 19 May 2016 an officer from TAMS contacted the caller and left a message. An audit on the signage will be conducted shortly.
Directorate: JACS
Issue: The caller asked about when the Government was planning to release the Glanfield report into domestic violence in the ACT.
Response: The Chief Minister advised that the Government was currently considering the report as part of the Budget deliberations and that it would be released shortly.
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: The caller phoned regarding who has right of way in the shared zone on Bunda Street. The caller worked in the City, and used the shared zones at least twice a day. The caller said that they find the shared zones dangerous, as cars ignore the fact it is a shared zone, and the caller has nearly been run over twice. The caller said something needs to be done about it before a pedestrian is hit injured or killed, asking if there had been any consideration about making the zone more obvious.
Response: The Chief Minister said the Government is continuing the education program for drivers, there is a lot of signage there, and the actual road treatment is very different, which alerts drivers to the shared zone with its different rules. The Chief Minister noted that any change to traffic management arrangements takes time to settle down, but it is an area where people are expected to slow down and there is a lot of signage and movement that naturally restricts the speed of traffic. The Chief Minister said that there is a requirement for common sense in the shared zone but pedestrians have right of way. As in all low-speed environments, the most vulnerable road users, in this case pedestrians and cyclists, have the right of way, and cars need to give way. The Chief Minister said that the marking on the road and the signage contributes to the education for users of the area and this process will be ongoing. These sorts of zones exist all over Australia and the world, and Canberrans will be able to manage it.
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: The caller phoned about an old playground on Stokes Street in Griffith. Some years ago most play equipment was removed, but the workers took pity and found a few discarded items from playgrounds in newer areas, including a very tall slippery dip. The caller said yesterday there was a team of people changing the links on the swings, because of the danger of getting fingers caught in them, and moving the copper logs away from the slippery dip because of the danger of falling back. What is needed is a mound of eucalyptus chips to be placed under the slippery dip so that children don't have so far to fall. The caller advised that they had asked the workers about that, but they said it was not their job. The caller asked if the Chief Minister could please find some more discarded equipment and get something done about the depth of the soil under the slippery dip.
Response: The Chief Minister advised that he would get someone to look at that.
OUTCOME: An officer from TAMS contacted the caller and advised that more softfall will be added to the playground over the next 2 weeks.
Directorate: EPD - Planning 2) TAMS
Issue: 1)The caller phoned about planning and two big hardware shops out in Gungahlin. The caller asked if there was any thought to regulating the stores similarly to chemists and newsagents, as one of the shops helped build Gungahlin, while the other is the behemoth that came in afterwards. The caller asked what the planning directorate do about this. 2) The caller also asked about three sackings at TAMS this week. Is this government policy? Was there any oversight? Where was the Minister in this?
Response: 1) The Chief Minister advised that there was not a role for the Planning directorate to regulate how far apart hardware shops can be. The Chief Minister advised that the Planning Directorate zone land for a certain use - this land would either be a light industrial or commercial bulky goods use - and then the sites go to market. The Chief Minister said that it is a commercial decision by the buyer of the land what sort of bulky goods retailer or light commercial activity they undertake. The Government does not intervene to stifle competition. The Chief Minister also noted there is a very powerful argument for why the rules for pharmacies and newsagents need to be changed. This was part of the Harper Review of Competition that the Commonwealth Government released. The Federal Government regulates the distance between pharmacies and a few years ago when someone wanted to set up a pharmacy in Hackett, they weren't allowed to do it because it was 50m too close to the nearest pharmacy to meet the rules (1450 instead of 1500m). 2) The Chief Minister said that there was a new agency being created, Transport Canberra and City Services. As part of that restructure, there has been a change in the executive structure. There has been no change in the number of positions, but there are different job responsibilities, so there is a process of recruiting new executives.
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: The caller raised gridlocked Canberran roads, particularly Horse Park Drive. The caller noted that the new suburb of Throsby is being built, with a tram down Flemington Road. While Flemington Road doesn't currently get gridlocked, the GDE and Horse Park Drive morning and night are just gridlocked. The caller said that we need to fix Horse Park Drive as a matter of urgency.
Response: The Chief Minister said that a number of weeks ago, the full duplication of Horse Park Drive was announced, getting underway very shortly and completed as soon as possible.
Directorate: Education/TAMS
Issue: The caller phoned to say a big thankyou in follow up to a call from a couple of weeks ago about the bus route 281 going to the Black Mountain School. Following that phone call, 6 families now have a bus to help them in the morning.
Response: The Chief Minister thanked the caller for their call and advised the message would be passed on.
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: The caller asked whether there will be a children's playground with all weather cover installed at the new Casey market place. The caller noted that there was one a couple of blocks away but it has tanbark underneath it so in winter it is not useable.
Response: The Chief Minister advised that he would get some information on that noting that he had only one tour of the Casey market place so far, focusing on the inside. It will be officially opened soon, but he would need to get advice on the playground.
OUTCOME: An officer from TAMS contacted the caller and advised that TAMS would get back to her confirming the plans for this park. The caller was given an officer's phone number.
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: The caller phoned in follow up to a previous talkback request from 2 months ago for lights in an underpass that connects Egan Circuit in Belconnen to Keen Place in Page. The caller said they received a call from someone in the Chief Minister's Office 2 weeks ago advising it is being looked into but since then there has been nothing.
Response: The Chief Minister said that it may take longer than a few weeks to resolve those issues, but the Chief Minister will get an update and have someone contact the caller.
OUTCOME: An officer from TAMS contacted the caller and advised that a night time assessment was undertaken and Roads ACT will arrange for the installation of lights in this underpass. It was advised that the construction works may not start for three months due to specialist lights being required to complete works.
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: The caller rang about the work in Civic around the Canberra Centre, highlighting a big problem for elderly people, such as the caller, is that it is impossible to get a taxi as the old taxi rank on Bunda Street is occupied. The caller noted that taxi drivers are unable to pick passengers up from opposite where the rank used to be, the caller has seen elderly people crying because they have been unable to get a taxi as they are right up on Moore Street. The caller asked when is the Canberra Centre going to be finished , what are the elderly people meant to do.
Response: The Chief Minister said that the taxi rank has been moved to the corner of Mort Street and Bunda Street, around 20 metres from where it used to be. There are other points where people can arrange to be collected from by a taxi and there are ridesharing services that passengers can arrange to have pick them up from other locations.
OUTCOME: An officer from TAMS spoke to the caller on 19 May 2016 and advised locations of taxi ranks on Bunda Street and on Mort Street. The caller was advised that the construction works associated with the Canberra Centre refurbishment, which caused the relocation of the taxi rank, is planned to be complete by November 2016.
SMS/TEXT
Directorate: Economic Development
Issue: Can we get Collingwood to build a stadium on the promise that they play a couple of games here as well, it seems to make as much sense as the Greater Western Sydney building a stadium in Canberra.
Response: The Chief Minister said that Collingwood obviously have a home ground in Melbourne and they play their home games in Melbourne. The Giants split their home games between Canberra and Sydney and they want to have a long term commitment to Canberra. They are a part of a 10 year arrangement at the moment and they want to make that longer term, which is a good thing.
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: Would you be able to ask the chief minister if there could be a shared pathway for bikes and pedestrians along Torrens St Braddon.
Response: The Chief Minister advised that he was unsure if there was enough space to achieve this, noting that a current program of enhancements to shared paths in the inner north was focusing on the Turner side of Northbourne Avenue. The Chief Minister said that upgrades along Northbourne Avenue are being looked at, but as for Torrens Street, further advice would need to be sought.
OUTCOME: An officer from TAMS phoned the caller. The resident was informed of an urban public domain guideline developed by the Land Development Agency which outlined active travel options along Torrens Street. The resident was informed this included off-road cycle facilities that would address both commuter and connectivity needs.
Directorate: EPD - Planning/Economic Development
Issue: What control does ACT gov have over CSIRO land use at Ginninderra now that it is classified as urban. Strikes me it will cost ACT $$$$ for infrastructure around the site as traffic already congested on Barton Hwy.
Response: The Chief Minister agreed that the caller was correct, noting his disappointment with the process that the Commonwealth adopted in this case. The Chief Minister advised that the ACT Government had recommended that area not be zoned for urban development at this stage, suggesting a compromised position of allocating it as future urban development and undertaking the sort of planning studies that are commonplace in Canberra with new developments, such as the process undertaken for the Molongolo Valley, where there was 10 years between the first contemplation of it as a urban development zone to when construction commenced. The Chief Minister further advised that a similar process over four to eight years took place with the Riverview development in West Belconnen. The Chief Minister noted that the CSIRO proposal has been rushed through. Although it hasn't attracted much attention yet, it is likely to become a big issue in the not too distant future. The CSIRO have put out an expression of interest for development partners that closes next week, indicating that they want to build on it immediately.
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: I am very concerned about the volume of traffic along Owen Dixon Drive in Spence. Morning and night there is consistently heavy traffic, along what is a residential street, creating pollution, noise, rubbish and danger. It seems that planning haven't thought about the implications of building exit roads from Gungahlin. Is anything being done to fix this?
Response: The Chief Minister said that yes, there is a feasibility study underway into improvements to the particular intersection. The Chief Minister noted that the Government is actively looking into this and the caller's point is noted and being worked on.
Directorate: Treasury
Issue: When is ACT Budget Day?
Response: The Chief Minister said that it will be on the first Tuesday in June, which is the 7th, the Legislative Assembly sits for that week in June, then after the budget sitting, it moves into two and a half weeks of budget estimates. Most of the month of June is occupied by the introduction of the Budget, its detailed consideration by an Assembly Committee who then produce a report, putting forward recommendations, then the Assembly considers the Budget for another 16-18 hours, normally in the August sittings.
Directorate: Health
Issue: Chief Minister what is being done about the long waits for maternal and child health services in Gungahlin? I have asked your deputy health minister twice about this and had not had any response.
OUTCOME: The Assistant Minister for Health has written to the caller to address her concerns about waiting times for maternal and child health services in Gungahlin.
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: For Chief Minister, while reviewing traffic at the airport could you have the people look at the roundabout with high plants. Traffic from the Queanbeyan direction turning into Brindabella Park is not visible to opposing traffic until very late.
OUTCOME: On 19 May 2016 an officer from TAMS contacted the caller to discuss the vegetation on the roundabout. The caller was advised that the ACT Government would arrange for trimming.
Directorate: Education/TAMS
Issue: Congratulations to roads ACT on road markings near some schools eg Macquarie primary re change into school zones, they should be at all primary schools.
Response: The Chief Minister said the Government is pleased with the initial success of that program and looks forward to being able to extend it to other schools.
Directorate: Access Canberra/Education
Issue: Was it really necessary to put many teachers through considerable stress and disruption (including suspending seven teachers as reported in the press on Monday) because of delays in the Office of Regulatory Services in processing Working with Vulnerable People Cards (text cut off)
Response: The Chief Minister said that it was regrettable, it was an administrative problem, it has been fixed, and that he has been advised personally by the head of that area that it will never happen again.
Directorate: EPD - Planning
Issue: Chief Minister Could we please have an update on the vacant block on the corner of Belconnen way and Lathlain street in Belconnen. It has been a hole for approximately 10 years.
Response: The Chief Minister noted that this is the block near the Belconnen markets and Bunning's and he is familiar with this issue. The Chief Minister advised that there are processes underway to get the developer to progress that particular project, as it is understood a change in economic conditions impacted on their original timetable. The Chief Minister advised that he would seek some more recent information on the issue and what was happening to get some movement on that site.
OUTCOME: An officer in the planning and land authority contacted the caller to explain that the ACT Government has been working with the developer to progress development on the site and that a new development application has been received for the site. The development application is currently undergoing a documentary check, and will then go through a public notification period. The caller was encouraged to make a submission during the public notification period, and will be contacted once the notification period has commenced.
Directorate: TAMS/EPD - Planning
Issue: Adding more lanes does not reduce gridlock - fewer cars on the roads does. That means fast reliable public transport. We hear whinges about $700m for the first stage of light rail which includes rolling stock and service centres which will not be need to [text cut off]
Response: The Chief Minister said we need a balanced approach to transport improvements, which invests significantly in public transport. In the context of Gungahlin and its longer term development, there is no doubt that in addition to public transport investment, there are a few major arterial roads that need to be duplicated to alleviate some pressure, but the point is well made that what is needed in the longer term is significant investment in public transport. That is why the Government is doing both, adopting a balanced approach so it is not all about cars, it is also about public transport. That makes it a very clear point of difference between the current Government and the opposition. The Government has a balanced approach to investing in all types of transport improvement, including light rail, buses, roads, walking and cycling infrastructure, supporting active transport and investing in all modes to make it easier to get around the city.
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: Sandwich boards on Bunda street are still presenting a hazard for pedestrians and especially for those of us with disabilities. Yesterday there were so many in one location foot traffic was down to one person each way. Happy to meet TAMS staff on location
OUTCOME: A city ranger inspected the location before contacting the caller to see the issue first hand. The city ranger did identify breaches against the current 'Public Unleased Land (Movable Signs) Code of Practice 2013'. The ranger took photos of offending businesses and an educational approach will be undertaken regarding the placement of signs in accordance with the code. If the businesses are in breach again after the education process, regulatory action will be taken by impounding the offending sign and fees will be charged for the release. TAMS contacted the caller and advised them of the identified issues and the actions that are going to follow.
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: I was parked on Golden Grove in Red Hill yesterday waiting to pick my son up from CGS. There was a constant stream of buses going past, none of them doing 40kms. It was positively dangerous as there is so much school traffic in the area ... not to mention st [text cut off]
OUTCOME: An officer from Public Transport phoned the caller. The Officer has left contact details for the customer to call back. The complaint has also been sent to ACTION operations to investigate.
Directorate: Access Canberra
Issue: For the Chief Minister - Why do three blocks of land still remain undeveloped in Overall Avenue after 5 years?
OUTCOME: Access Canberra contacted the caller and advised that all lessees have five years under statutory timeframes in which to complete development on their land before penalties may be imposed by Access Canberra. All lessees may apply (fees apply) to extend their applicable development provisions. Once the timeframe has been extended, the lessee of the block would no longer be in breach of their lease.