Trafic Lights commitment

ACT Greens Planning spokesperson, Caroline Le Couteur, has announced that the Greens have secured a $700,000 commitment from the ACT Government to signalise the extension of Wells Station Drive.

This is a good result for residents who have been concerned about the safety of the intersection between Horse Park Drive and the proposed Wells Station Drive.

It was clear that their concerns were real, and needed to be addressed.  This is a good example of community input being taken on for a better outcome.  After pressure from the Greens, TAMS has redone its traffic modelling. TAMS now agrees with the residents that the intersection would have been dangerous and it will now have traffic lights from day one.

Road Re-alignment issue

The Greens have recently been advised that the additional cost for re-routing the road to the eastern side of the hill would be in the order of $5m – almost doubling the project cost.  This is due a number of factors including the need for widening and strengthening of the existing bridge where the re-routed road would meet Horse Park drive and the need to replace the alluvial soil on the alternative route.

Last November, when the Greens supported a motion calling for the re-routing of the road, there was no information to suggest it would cost almost twice as much.

Now we have the cost and the commitment to signals from the start, the Greens have looked at the issue again.  The signals will significantly reduce the safety issues, and both possible routes will have houses at about the same distance away from the road so they have a similar impact on people.  We are not aware of any ecological or heritage case for changing the route of the road.  So given these factors and the state of the ACT budget, we have accepted the Government’s decision to stick with the original route.

Mr Barr has made a Ministerial Statement to the Assembly, explaining to residents why the realignment will be so expensive. We also expect the Government will further liaise with local residents to establish whether any additional noise or safety mitigation measures can be taken.

ACT Greens Multicultural Affairs spokesperson Amanda Bresnan MLA will move a motion of support in the ACT Legislative Assembly for the establishment of an Islamic Library in Canberra.

“There has been a slow and steady campaign to establish an Islamic library here. This campaign has been led by Ahmed Youssef, Canberra’s Islamic Volunteer of the Year 2009,” Ms Bresnan said today.

“So far some 30,000 texts and other materials have been collected for the library, the largest such collection in Australia. The collection has been recognised locally, nationally and internationally by scholars and researchers.”

“This magnificent collection needs Government support to get its own building or space, and have all of its material catalogued.”

“The Greens believe there is a place for everyone in Canberra, and it is important that we provide safe, tolerant and accessible spaces where people can investigate and practise Islamic culture.”

“I am hoping all members of the Legislative Assembly will decide to come on board this campaign, and assist in securing resources for the establishment of an Islamic library in Canberra.” Ms Bresnan said.

ACT Greens Health spokesperson Amanda Bresnan MLA has today expressed her support for the ACT Government to pursue compulsory acquisition of Calvary Public Hospital, given the Minister for Health’s indications that the ACT Government will still go ahead with investing funds in that facility.

“The Greens have always supported the purchase of Calvary Public Hospital. It would be in the best interests of ACT taxpayers and health care consumers if the northside public hosipital was under public ownership,” Ms Bresnan said today.

“Early indications from the Minister for Health are that the ACT Government is likely to invest $200m in Calvary Public Hospital, despite no longer being able to buy it. If that is the case, the Greens believe the ACT Government should consider pursuing compulsory acquisition of the Hospital.”

“The Greens have discussed compulsory acquisition with the Chief Solicitor and former head of ACT Health and believe it is legally possible.”

“We were working to broker an outcome that could address the concerns raised by the community about the sale of the Hospice being included in the deal. You don’t solve one problem by creating another,” Ms Bresnan said.