Posted on 27/11/2015
Calls received on air
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: Near the bicentennial horse trail from Hall to Dunlop, a telecommunications company has put in cable and dug a continuous gutter all the way from Owen Dixon Drive to Kingsford Smith Drive, which is a safety hazard.
Response: The Chief Minister said the government would look into it.
OUTCOME: An officer from TAMS contacted the caller and advised TAMS is investigating the ground works and will contact the telecommunications company involved with regards to restoring the area.
Directorate: Economic Development
Issue: The caller is an audio-describer for Canberra Theatre and since the afterhours paid parking was introduced they now have trouble, as the carpark near the Theatre is the safest place to park, but they only have 3 parking permits between them and they have to post them to each other between various performances. The rest of the time they often only get 2 hour parking vouchers when the plays can be much longer than that.
Response: The Chief Minister said they could look at a way to make that process more seamless for the volunteers.
OUTCOME: The caller was contacted to ascertain further details about the concerns raised, including information about how the parking permits are issued and allocated. As a result, the Cultural Facilities Corporation is working with the Road User Services area of ACT Government to explore whether additional permits and/or permits of a longer duration could be provided for audio describer volunteers at the Canberra Theatre Centre.
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: The caller also complained about guttering for telecommunications cable along Kingsford Smith Drive up towards the Spence shops that was a trip hazard. Weed spraying and gravel to fill pot holes is needed along walking path along Owen Dixon Drive. And a bridge over the causeway there has a 4m drop into water and needs a guardrail. The caller has contacted Canberra Connect about it who said there was no problem, but he thinks it is a safety issue.
Response: The Chief Minister said it could be looked at.
OUTCOME: An officer from TAMS advised that TAMS is investigating the ground works and will contact the telecommunications company involved with regards to restoring the area. Other matters raised are being investigated and remediated where required.
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: The speed humps along Coyne Street in Macarthur and Fadden don’t do any good. The caller has never seen so many skid marks since they were introduced. The buses go straight over without braking and it only penalises the sensible car drivers.
Response: The Chief Minister said these speed humps were the result of a survey and community consultation over a year ago due to concerns expressed by residents along these streets that traffic calming measures were required.
Directorate: JACS
Issue: The caller drives out to Fyshwick and notices 20-30 bicycle riders taking up a full lane. Why can they do this when they don’t have to pay for registration or insurance like other road users?
Response: The Chief Minister said the road rules did not permit this and that cyclists were required to keep to the left. There is also a Code of Conduct that is sent to all road users with their car registration reminders encouraging the attitude of sharing the road and the Chief Minister noted that most cyclists were also car users and so would receive that information too.
OUTCOME: The road rules specify that two cyclists can ride abreast but more than two cyclists is not permitted, unless a cyclist is overtaking two cyclists riding abreast.
Directorate: Economic Development
Issue: The caller lives in North Bruce and looks after keen soccer-playing children. There is nowhere nearby they can go to kick a ball around. With all the infill building in the area, is there any plan for an oval? The children either have to cross very busy roads to get to facilities at UC or they have to go in the car to get to Aranda oval. Fernhill Park is on a hill and not flat enough to kick a ball around.
Response: The Chief Minister said this could be looked at.
OUTCOME: The caller was contacted and advised that ACT Government has no plans at this time to provide a public sportsground in North Bruce. It was highlighted that there are numerous public sportsgrounds located in close proximity to North Bruce, including Aranda District Playing Fields and Kaleen District Sportsgrounds.
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: Speed humps are a disaster for people with neck and back injuries. Even in a car with the best suspension money can buy, passengers can suffer agonising pain with each jolt, even at low speeds.
Response: The Chief Minister appreciated the difficulty for people in this situation, but also acknowledged there was a real need for traffic calming measures as drivers were not slowing down enough without them. The Chief Minister said the government could look at design options that might minimise jolting.
OUTCOME: On 1 December 2015 an officer from TAMS contacted the caller and explained that speed humps used in the ACT were within guidelines. The ACT uses a combination of speed humps, chicanes and other traffic calming devices based on the road, its location and requirements.
Directorate: ETD
Issue: The caller’s children attend a public school in the ACT and she has been lobbying for a fence to be built around it for the last 5 years as it is a very busy area. The caller understand s the current process requires agreement of the P&C, the School Board and the Principal, but she wants this decision to be put into the hands of the directorate instead as it is a duty of care issue.
Response: The Chief Minister said this was a legitimate concern and many schools had installed fences to deal with safety or vandalism issues. The Chief Minister said ETD could discuss the issue with the particular school with the caller but that at the moment it is true that these decisions are made on a consensus basis within the school community and that moving to override the majority view in the school community would be taking it to a new level.
OUTCOME: It was confirmed that the school the caller’s child attended had indicated a preference for the installation of a perimeter fence, based on student safety needs. The caller was aware that there was strong school support for the installation of a perimeter fence. ETD confirmed that discussions with the school were well advanced and that the Directorate and the school were now working on the fence designs. An update will be provided through the school newsletter.
Directorate: N/A
Issue: A bus shelter at the ANU near Crawford School of Public Policy on the number 7 route bus service has been removed. It is near a childcare centre and lots of international students also rely on this stop and it is very unpleasant in hot weather with no shade. Could something be done about it?
Response: The Chief Minister explained that this bus stop was an ANU facility on NCA land, so it was not within the control of the ACT Government. The Chief Minister was happy to add it to the list of things he could discuss with the ANU and the NCA and their next meetings, but suggested the caller may wish to raise it directly with the ANU in the first instance.
Directorate: CMA
Issue: The caller congratulated the Chief Minister’s long term commitment to light rail and asked if the line could be named the ANZAC line, with stops named after significant events in our military history?
Response: The Chief Minister thanked the caller for the suggestion and said it was the first time it had been raised with him and the government would consider it.
Directorate: CMA
Issue: Does the estimated Budget for light rail include the fleet and maintenance? How many trams will you buy?
Response: The Chief Minister said the Budget did include the rolling stock and maintenance, through a contract in the order of two decades, and that the number of trams would depend on the length of the line and if the Russell extension went ahead or not.
Callers Not Answered on air but followed up
Directorate: EPD
Issue: Why is the Government using call-in powers to shortcut important planning decisions in this city?
OUTCOME: The caller was contacted and provided information about the call-in process generally, and that this does not remove the requirement for an independent and robust assessment of a development application against the Territory Plan and Planning and Development Act 2007 or the opportunity for the public to comment on the application. It was noted that it does remove third party review in the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Directorate: Economic Development
Issue: How is the purchase of the land going to happen at the development at West Belconnen given it crosses both ACT and NSW land?
OUTCOME: An officer from the Land Development Agency contacted the caller and advised that the question of land tenure has been considered but not yet decided in relation to West Belconnen as development is 10 – 15 years away from reaching the border.
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: Furious about speed humps
OUTCOME: An officer of TAMS has attempted to contact the caller to obtain more information about the location of the speed humps and the issue being experienced by the caller. The officer will continue to make contact.
Directorate: Health
Issue: Caller has severe auto-immune system problems. The speed humps at Canberra Hospital car park – the pain is excruciating. It’s appalling.
OUTCOME: ACT Health contacted the caller and explained that, as a result of safety concerns, a review of the car park was undertaken with a recommendation made to install the speed humps. The caller was provided with alternate parking options (where there are no speed humps) and details about the parking exemption scheme process.
SMS/TEXT
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: From Chifley to the Pearce shops there are no bus shelters along the route (there are in the other direction). Could we have some?
Response: The Chief Minister said it could be looked at.
OUTCOME:Public Transport will investigate patronage to determine if bus shelters are required along this route.
Directorate: Economic Development
Issue: What time is the Christmas tree lighting tonight?
Response: The Chief Minister said it would be between 8.30 and 9.00pm.
Directorate: Economic Development
Issue: Didn’t anyone get advice years ago that the trees were suffering from Floriade in Commonwealth Park and take remedial action?
Response: The Chief Minister said this was a more recent problem, and there is not universal agreement yet about the cause of the trees dying. The Chief Minister said the ACT Government was taking this on face value and was seeking to address the problem with the NCA.
Directorate: EPD
Issue: Please give the Cotter pub development the go-ahead.
Response: The Chief Minister said he was interested in hearing from entrepreneurs and innovators and would keep an open mind to engage with them on the proposal.
Directorate: CMTEDD – Policy and Cabinet
Issue: Has the issue of reciprocal transport concession for seniors with ACT and NSW been resolved yet?
Response: The Chief Minister said he had met recently with the NSW Premier and they discussed transport integration, and had just begun preliminary discussions to see if the NSW Premier was interested in working with us on whether the Opal card might be able to be introduced in the ACT as well as NSW to integrate the two systems further. The Chief Minister said he was also looking for an outcome soon reciprocal concessions for seniors.
Directorate: Economic Development
Issue: Fruit bats might be causing the tree deaths on the Floriade site.
Response: The Chief Minister said the ACT Government would work constructively with the NCA so they can stage the best possible Floriade within Commonwealth Park given all the constraints put on us.
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: The Canberra Centenary Trail was too much like walking on a bike path, with cyclists whizzing past and very hard ground underfoot.
Response: The Chief Minister thanked the caller for the feedback and said he would consider it.
Directorate: Economic Development
Issue: Maybe the rides are the problem for the trees at Floriade.
Response: The Chief Minister said the intention was to keep Floriade at the Commonwealth Park site.
Directorate: N/A
Issue: There is a police vehicle outside ASIO all day long. Does the ACT Government pay for that or the Commonwealth?
Response: The Chief Minister said the Commonwealth would pay for it as it was a Commonwealth institution.
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: The sign on the Parkway to Civic is incorrect as it points straight ahead but that won’t get you to civic. Will it be corrected?
Response: The Chief Minister said it could be looked at.
OUTCOME: The guide signs on the Tuggeranong Parkway at the Glenloch Interchange have been reviewed and are correct. To reinforce the exit arrangements, Roads ACT will provide pavement marking on the Tuggeranong Parkway indicating ‘City’.
Directorate: Economic Development
Issue: Will new Northbourne corridor development include conditions to have some public housing?
Response: The Chief Minister said the ACT Government was acquiring new properties with the desire to let those tenants who wanted to stay within the broad Northbourne corridor to be accommodated in the area. Some tenants prefer to move elsewhere closer to family or their workplaces, so they are not forcing anyone to stay in the Northbourne corridor either.
OUTCOME: The ACT Government is acquiring new public housing properties to provide options for those tenants who want to stay within the broad Northbourne Avenue corridor to be accommodated in the area. From experience to date, it is clear that some tenants will prefer to move elsewhere, closer to family or their workplaces, so tenants will not be forced to stay in the Northbourne Avenue area either. The ACT Government is working with public housing tenants to identify their support needs and ensure that support and assistance is available during their relocation. Further information about the public housing renewal program is available at www.act.gov.au/housingrenewal.
Directorate: TAMS/EPD
Issue: Not happy with recent gratuitous proliferation of Roads to Recovery signs in Weston Creek.
Response: The Chief Minister said Roads to Recovery was a Commonwealth Government program and the signs were a requirement of the Commonwealth to recognise every dollar they contributed.
Directorate: CIT
Issue: Tuggeranong CIT appears to lack amenities from looking at the plan.
Response: The Chief Minister said the CIT will be right in the Town Centre on Anketell Street and that people should keep an eye n the CIT website for details. The Government will also do some promotion of the course options available. It is a significant capital spend for the ACT Government and will support not only educational opportunities but also economic activity right in the heart of the Town Centre.
Directorate: Economic Development
Issue: What about Floriade at Lake Ginninderra?
OUTCOME: For the immediate future, the National Capital Authority (NCA) has agreed to extend its current Licence Agreement with the ACT Government – which will enable the delivery of Floriade in Commonwealth Park for 2016 with a re-configured footprint. The ACT Government is also in the early stages of planning for 2017 (Floriade’s 30th anniversary) and beyond.
As a much-loved Canberra event and a major visitation driver for the Territory, this planning will be centred on staging Floriade in a manner and location that continues to deliver strong tourism and economic returns, along with an overall event experience that meets high community expectations.
It is important that the Canberra community gets the opportunity to have its say on Floriade’s future and input from members of the public, the business community and other key stakeholders will be invited in the coming months.
Directorate: Access Canberra – Construction, Environment and Workplace Protection (EPA)
Issue: We live across the road from St John’s church in Reid and every Sunday at 8am, the bells ring quite loudly. We're not against the church, but the ringing is fairly loud for that time of the morning. I've asked the church to reconsider how loudly [they ring the Bells]
OUTCOME: An officer from Access Canberra spoke to the complainant and advised noise emitted in the course of a religious service is exempt where it meets the following conditions:
a) The noise is not amplified; and
b) The noise is only emitted
(i) between 7 am and 10 pm on Monday to Saturday; or
(ii) between 8 am and 10 pm on Sunday or a public holiday.
The officer talked the person through the legislation link to the exemption under the Environment Protection regulation 2005.