Posted on 22/07/2016
Calls received on air
Directorate: Economic Development/Health/Treasury
Issue: The caller asked about an announcement that 600 staff from the Health directorate would be moved to Woden Town Centre. The caller is a business owner in the area and has noted that there is very little work occurring at the building and a lack of lease signage around the building. The caller wanted to confirm that the commitment will be honoured and what the time frame will be for the 600 staff to move in.
Response: The Chief Minister said 350 staff from Access Canberra had already moved to the Woden Town Centre, and when the Health staff move as well it will be more than 1000 staff in total. The Chief Minister said the timeframe depended on being able to finalise the lease negotiations.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: The caller requested a pedestrian crossing for the slip lane from Starke street onto Southern Cross Drive, opposite the Cranleigh School. The caller was concerned that when you cross that slip lane or that road, your back is to oncoming traffic and you have very low visibility.
Response: The Chief Minister thanked the caller for raising the issue and said a team would go out to assess it.
OUTCOME: An officer from Roads ACT contacted the caller and agreed to investigate this issue further. The officer also arranged to contact the caller directly with the outcome of investigation.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: The caller was frustrated about the slow response to the debris left on her nature strip following the removal of a big gum tree across the road. The caller contacted City Services through the Access Canberra call centre on Monday but has received no follow up.
Response: The Chief Minister said City Services had advised it had a very large number of jobs to deal with from that storm, but this one was on the priority list and they would get to it as soon as possible.
OUTCOME: An officer from TCCS advised that there are a lot of storm damage requests at present and TCCS are prioritising works according to safety. TCCS also advised that the process during a storm was to make jobs safe before returning to clean up the debris and that the trunk would be removed by the crane truck within the following weeks, weather pending.
Directorate: Health
Issue: The caller rang about the new paediatric waiting room at the Canberra Hospital. The caller said there were only 6 beds for all children from 0-18 years old and they had a very long wait over 3 hours. The caller said this was woefully inadequate and that some even sicker babies had even longer waits.
Response: The Chief Minister apologised for the caller’s experience and said someone from ACT Health would contact the caller about it.
OUTCOME: The ACT Health Consumer Feedback Team contacted the caller on 29 July 2016 to discuss her concerns in detail. Senior staff from the Emergency Department will arrange further discussions with the caller about her personal experience.
Directorate: EPD - Planning
Issue: The caller asked what route the light rail would take to Woden and Mawson. The caller had spoken with her local member and they had told her that the route would go behind the arboretum, out to Wright and Coombs and then into to Woden. Is this true or will it be going along Commonwealth Ave and Kings Avenue bridge? The caller was informed that the Molonglo Valley extension would be next.
Response: The Chief Minister said there is a direct route to Woden proposed, there will also be a future connection that connects the Molonglo Valley and Weston Creek and that would also go along the first route that the caller described. The Chief Minister said there may have been a misunderstanding between the caller and the candidate. The Government has recently completed a public transport consultation with over 6000 Canberrans and a number of routes were being considered now before the Government would make an announcement on Stage 2. The Chief Minister said Stage 2 would be built straight after Stage 1 was completed, to offer continuity of employment and economic benefits. The Chief Minister confirmed, however, that if the next stage was going to go to Woden, then the route would go through the Parliamentary Triangle not the Molonglo Valley.
Directorate: CMTEDD/TCCS/EPD/ACT Policing
Issue: The caller was the Secretary of the Oaks Estate Progress Association, which met with the Chief Minister and all the Cabinet ministers 18 months ago. The caller said the Chief Minister had promised to establish a task force that would look at the road and pedestrian safety issues in Oaks Estate, as they don’t meet the Roads ACT funding matrix so they would never be eligible for any funding unless they were given separate consideration. The caller complained of a decades-long infrastructure investment deficit in the Oaks Estate community. The caller asked when they would get to sit down with Roads ACT and the relevant directorates to address these issues?
Response: The Chief Minister discussed the caller’s concerns. Minister Fitzharris has made a number of announcements in relation to new infrastructure and new services for Oaks Estate, and will continue to work with the Oaks Estate Progress Association and other stakeholders in relation to improving amenities there. The ACT Government will continue to focus on Oaks Estate and other areas of the city that require infrastructure augmentation. The Government has a program of investment each year, in each budget and has made some allocations this year for Oaks Estate.
OUTCOME: TCCS met with Oaks Estate Residents Association on 4 August 2016 to discuss their concerns.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: The caller is concerned about the state of walkways following rain between Mirrabei Drive and Windradyne Street. They become inundated with water that stays for a number days and makes them unusable. The caller was also concerned about the water catchment area near Windradyne Avenue, at the end of Wanganeen Avenue, there is a small bridge across the stormwater way. You can’t access the bridge when it rains as both ends of the bridge are inundated with water.
Response: The Chief Minister said a team will go and look at the problem if the exact details could be provided off air, as there can be engineering issues with where the excess stormwater goes.
OUTCOME: An officer from Roads ACT has spoken with the caller, inspected the sites and has arranged remedial work to improve the drainage after heavy rain. The caller was provided the contact details of the Roads ACT officer should this continue to be a problem.
Directorate: CMTEDD/TCCS/EPD/ACT Policing
Issue: The caller complained of myriad problems affecting Oaks Estate, including road safety concerns, a high proportion of public housing and unemployment, problems with addiction and substance abuse, a lack of adequate bus services, infrastructure, heritage listings and Policing, which the caller said the ACT Government had failed to address.
Response: The Chief Minister explained the various actions the ACT Government had taken to provide a coordinated, whole of government response to issues in Oaks Estate, including ACT Policing activities, traffic management investigations, and heritage and planning work. ACT Policing will continue patrols in Oaks Estate to address speeding and anti-social behaviour. JACS is working with Access Canberra to establish new sites for mobile speed cameras in Oaks Estate, and those will be running shortly. In the Community Services area, the Minister provided information in relation to the St Vincent de Paul Society services provided under the Samaritan Services program in Oaks Estate. Railway Street in Oaks Estate has been moved up the warrant system since these meetings by 104 places, in advance of a range of other programs, as a result of this lobbying.
OUTCOME: TCCS met with Oaks Estate Residents Association on 4 August 2016 to discuss their concerns.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: The caller asked if the Cotter Road duplication between Scrivener Dam and the Parkway had been funded in the Budget?
Response: The Chief Minister stated that it was and a total of $28.9 million was funded in this year’s budget, with the project completion aiming to be for the 2018-19 fiscal year.
Directorate: Economic Development
Issue: The caller lives in Turner and had been told it would be 10 years before the NBN would be rolled out there. The caller was aware this was a federal government issue, but asked if the ACT Government could step in and fund an improved roll out more quickly, because 10 years was too long for small businesses to wait. The caller said he would be willing to pay a levy to help fund this.
Response: The Chief Minister agreed that a speedier rollout would be of great benefit but explained that this was a federal government issue and the ACT Government is not in a position to step in. The ACT can pressure the Commonwealth on this, but unfortunately until the federal government changes, or changes its position, we will be left with the current model and timeframes. The Chief Minister had been assured the rollout would be complete by 2020, but ultimately it was up to the Commonwealth to meet that promise.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: The caller lives in Belconnen in Macgregor and asked why bus stops were covered on only one side of the road?
Response: The Chief Minister said it was a question of usage and how many patrons used particular stops. However, there is a program of bus stop improvements and the directorate could look into the stops in that area. The government was providing more extensive shelter and continuing to improve the amenity around bus stops.
OUTCOME: An officer from TCCS contacted the caller regarding the location of bus shelters. The shelters were located on the side of the road where most passengers board (inbound to Belconnen and City). It was noted the opposite side was generally used to drop off passengers. The caller also mentioned that the position of the Nxtbus display at Westfield Belconnen (towards City) was too far from the head of the stop and required passengers to walk up and down the platform to get information. The TCCS officer advised that he would pass on the feedback to the Nxtbus team.
Directorate: Health
Issue: The caller rang about a letter she sent to the Chief Minister on 31 May 2016 about maintenance at Clare Holland House. The caller is in touch with the Holland family and they have become concerned by the state of the building and lack of external maintenance on the building. The caller would like a response to her letter.
Response: The Chief Minister said he receives thousands of letters, emails, tweets and texts and that sometimes there could be a delay with the postal system in receiving things, but that he did endeavour to respond within 28 days and apologised for this delay. The Chief Minister said he would look into it and get a response back to the caller.
OUTCOME: The Chief Minister wrote to the caller on 28 July 2016 to respond to her concerns. Along with refurbishment work on the interior, Calvary will be progressively upgrading the exterior of the facility with the front entry and outdoor furniture their initial focus.
SMS/TEXT
Directorate: JACS
Issue: New laws being introduced against outlaw motorcycle gangs. What will the government be doing to ensure these don’t also target regular motorcycle enthusiasts and group members?
Response: The Chief Minister confirmed that the Government was considering laws along these lines, but he could not add further information at this time. An announcement would be made in due course.
Directorate: Economic Development/Treasury
Issue: How much of the Asset Recycling Initiative and land release money from along the light rail corridor was going to be put into public housing?
Response: The Chief Minister said that $350 million was allocated to public housing in this budget and hundreds of millions previously. This was the single largest investment in public housing in the Territory since self-government. The Chief Minister confirmed that it would bring real innovation in the way public housing was distributed across the city, with less concentrated groupings.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Please close horse park drive from Forde to highway on weekends and get full duplication done. This work had caused major disruptions and has been appalling. You've lost my vote.
Response: The Chief Minister said that view may not be supported by the broader community. The Chief Minister acknowledged that road works can be disruptive, and they try to program work outside of peak times, but challenges can include bad weather, such as we have been having recently, which can delay these projects.
Directorate: EPD
Issue: If time permits can you please ask the chief minister if he will immediately stop the kangaroo cull, given yesterday's Supreme Court decision that the cull was deemed illegal. The government issued a 2 year licence ( to stop animal activists [text cut off]
Response: The Chief Minister said the Government would not be stopping.
Directorate: Treasury
Issue: Are major water security assets also being sold for light rail funding?
Response: The Chief Minister said no they were not.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Please tell me if Lyneham Shops will get a upgrade in this year’s budget, toilets as well.
Response: The Chief Minister said the ACT Government is currently reviewing the shopping centre upgrade list. The Chief Minister will note that request around Lyneham.
OUTCOME: An officer from TCCS contacted the caller regarding his query about Lyneham Shops and whether these shops were to be upgraded in the 2016-17 year. The caller was advised that these shops were not on the list for 2016-17 but will be considered in future budgets.
Directorate: Economic Development
Issue: Can electric assistance bikes be allowed at Stromlo? These are legal to use on public roads. Full mountain bikes go faster than me on my electric assist. I'm 62 year old. How can I get up Mt Stromlo.
OUTCOME: Stromlo Forest Park is currently reviewing its policy regarding pedal assist (electric) bikes and is consulting with industry groups and clubs.
Directorate: Access Canberra
Issue: Can we make 1 and 2 hour parking mean just that? Too many people including ACT Government staff use the close short term parks that disabled people NEED and keep feeding meters. Short term should be short term!
OUTCOME: Access Canberra contacted the caller who advised vehicles were overstaying time restrictions in Hillside Lane causing parking concerns particularly for people with a disability. The caller was unable to find close access parking in the location to attend medical and other appointments. Access Canberra noted parking inspectors will deploy other means of enforcing the time restriction in an attempt to curb drivers’ parking habits. Caller appreciated receiving a phone call and assistance with this matter.