Posted on 06/12/2017
Calls received on air 17 November 2017
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Concern about the quality of lighting on arterial Roads and wondering if there could be a separate area for these really large vehicles to park?
OUTCOME: Information was provided on the new energy performance contract and the focus on upgrading a majority of the streetlight network, especially along arterial roads to light-emitting diode (LEDs). The caller was also provided with an overview of the interim program and how we are managing streetlight defects.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Concern about the number of accidents at the T-Intersection on Ginninderra Drive and Tillyard Drive.
OUTCOME: The caller confirmed that her concerns were the number of accidents at the intersection and the need for improvements to be made. The caller was informed that Preliminary Sketch Plan work had commenced and will be completed shortly.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Street width in Kingston – too small.
OUTCOME: Tradesmen from nearby developments are parking along Leichhardt Street (near Giles Street), which narrows the available road widths for two cars to pass, creating traffic hazard. Also, reducing visibility for vehicles and pedestrians. Concerns about increased day parking further along Leichhardt Street (between Eyre Street and Dawes Street), causing similar issues around visibility, width, etc. Roads ACT confirmed that they would inspect the area and measures such as increased controls of existing parking would be undertaken.
Directorate: TCCS – City Presentation
Issue: Incorrect disposal of dog droppings – what can be done?
OUTCOME: Dog droppings disposed of incorrectly in a public place constitutes litter and can incur a penalty from $60.00 up to $200.00. TCCS encourages the public to be responsible pet owner and pick up after their animals.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Speed humps popping up everywhere – wouldn’t other measures be better?
OUTCOME: A TCCS officer spoke about the rationale behind the need for traffic calming on the road network. TCCS explained that the speed cushions are a cost-effective measure to reduce speeds and improve road safety in suburban areas. The design and positioning of speed humps are in accordance with Australian Standards and take into consideration the needs of all road users. The caller had a concern with the visibility of a particular device in Manuka, which will be inspected to see if any vegetation needs to be trimmed around the warning signage to make it more visible.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Netherlands bike safety – could we look into it in the ACT?
OUTCOME: The ‘Dutch reach’. This is a practice which has recently been promoted in the Netherlands, whereby a car driver opens their car door from the inside by using their right hand. In Australia, this would be the left hand. In effect, this forces the driver to look behind their seat for any approaching cyclists, avoiding ‘dooring’ incidents with oncoming cyclists. TCCS will suggest to JACS Road Safety that they consider promoting this for their next Share the Road Campaign messaging; and that Transport Canberra will also promote the concept through some upcoming social media posts on our facebook and twitter feeds.
Directorate: TCCS – Urban Treescapes
Issue: What can be done to encourage up-keep of street trees in suburbs?
OUTCOME: The caller was concerned that residents are not caring for their trees adequately, with some being removed and replaced with gravel for car parking. Currently, nature strips are an area of shared responsibility between government and lessees and it is accepted practice for residents to mow and maintain the nature strip that adjoins their property whilst the government maintains street trees and utilities. If residents are concerned that their street trees are being damaged by actions such as illegal parking they are encouraged to contact Access Canberra on 13 22 81 to report the issue, as parking in this way can damage the tree over time. The caller appreciated the contact.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Concerned about foliage and plants growing too high on roundabouts
OUTCOME: The officer advised that the roundabout is scheduled to be mown in the week commencing Monday 4 December 2017. The caller was happy with the advice provided.
Directorate: Access Canberra
Issue: Will the Government look into illegal parking around suburbs – the median strips in particular?
OUTCOME: An Access Canberra officer contacted the caller to discuss the illegal parking. As the caller mentioned that this issue occurs after hours and on weekends, they were advised that Access Canberra Parking Operations will investigate the areas of concern during after hours operations.
Directorate: Access Canberra
Issue: Worried about an abandoned house in Evatt – MacGill Street – public safety
OUTCOME: Access Canberra will continue to attempt to contact the caller in order to investigate.
SMS/TEXT
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: 6 months after being told "we will write to you with information on collection dates once your bin is delivered" I am still waiting for the calendar for green bin collection dates. If my neighbours are away over Christmas which day do I put my bin out? Which day replaces public holiday?
OUTCOME: The caller was contacted and advised that she will receive a pamphlet and calendar on the bin service will be delivered.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Franklin Early Childhood School needs a school crossing across the main Ave in Franklin (Oodgeroo Ave). There are often lots of speeding cars on the street & now with Flemington Rd closures for light rail, the road is harder to cross as the traffic is banked up. Families need to have easy, safe routes to school.
OUTCOME: The caller was concerned about pedestrian safety around the school and on Oodgeroo Avenue. The officer explained that currently there are insufficient numbers of vehicles and pedestrians to justify a pedestrian crossing. Road safety research has shown that underutilised crossings tend to be ignored by motorists and pedestrians can be a greater risk. The observed pedestrians had no issue with finding gaps to cross the road safely. There are existing pedestrian refuges at the roundabout which allow pedestrians to cross the road safely only having to look at one direction of traffic at a time. TCCS will provide the resident with a summary of the traffic and pedestrian movements during peak hour.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Great the Yes vote got up CM! Still we wait for proper footpaths in Narrabundah (Arunta/ Karloo St)
OUTCOME: TCCS contacted the caller to get exact location details.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Some nights Hindmarsh Drive is in almost darkness.
OUTCOME: TCCS contacted the caller and was provided information on the new energy performance contract and the focus on upgrading a majority of the streetlight network, especially along arterial roads to light-emitting diode (LEDs). The caller was also provided an overview of the interim program and how TCCS are managing streetlight defects.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: When turning out of the O'Connor dog park it is hard to see vehicles coming down from Belconnen Way due to foliage at the side of the road. It makes it hard to safely turn right towards MacArthur Ave. Can you please get someone to prune the bushes so that cars coming from the left can be seen.
OUTCOME: A TCCS officer inspected the site on 28 November 2017 and has scheduled for the three Callistemon shrubs to be pruned and/or removed to improve line of sight for drivers.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Regarding the public toilets at the Red Hill lookout, could you please install some soap dispensers? Also would it be possible to install a water bubbler / water bottle filling station?
OUTCOME: An officer from TCCS contacted the caller and informed the caller that although facilities such as soap dispensers often attract vandalism, TCCS will install soap dispensers at Red Hill lookout by the end of 2017. TCCS staff will monitor the dispensers over time and may have to remove them if there is frequent vandalism. The option of a bubbler at the lookout will be considered as part of future planning processes.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Excited to hear about green bins coming to Monash January 2018. How can i get one?
OUTCOME: TCCS contacted the caller and discussed how he can register for a green bin. The caller was happy to hear his bin will be delivered in January 2018.
Directorate: TCCS:
Issue: Could bollards go up along the foot path in front of Palmerston District primary school towards the Palmerston shops. Cars park on the path and drive over the path while children and parents are walking on the path to school. It's really dangerous, negligent and it would only take a slip of a foot for a tragedy to happen.
OUTCOME: There are currently no plans for bollards to be installed at Palmerston District Primary School towards Palmerston Shops. However, TCCS will contact the School to discuss options.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Adding my voice to the issue of major arterial lighting and car parking with the plethora of SUV s. Adelaide Ave and State Circle are the major roads which seem to be affected predominately. Only half the road being lit. Re parking: could we institute rear to kerb 45degree angle parking so that those of us who are short and in smaller cars can drive out of the space rather than back out. Our vision at the front of the car rather than inching out looking over our shoulder.
OUTCOME: A TCCS officer contacted the customer about the feasibility of introducing rear to kerb parking in 45 degree angled parking spaces, as is often the case in country towns. Her concern relates to the increasing size of SUV’s and four wheel drive vehicles which make reversing out of a space more problematic. The officer explained that parking is designed to comply with Australian Standards and that in most instances front in parking is the safer option. In relation to lighting The resident said that in her experience the street lighting around the Adelaide Avenue / State circle area is poor. The officer advised that road lighting is in accordance with the standard in place at the time of construction and that the lighting on Adelaide avenue would be reviewed by TCCS. Also advised that State Circle is a road under the control of the National Capital Authority (NCA) and her concerns would be passed on for investigation by the NCA.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: A waste feasibility study was conducted for ACT since 2015 at a cost of $2.8 mill. I understand The report has been presented to Government in October this year. Please inform when this report will be made public? When will community consultation start?
OUTCOME: TCCS will inform the constituent directly once the dates of publication of the report are known and invite her to consultation meetings.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: This is a very parochial request but one that would please the hearts of the residents in Quinn Street, O'Connor. Would it be possible to have a new sign which says" NO THROUGH ROAD" please? The current sign is small and set back from the road. The motorists do not see it and come into Quinn Street at a high speed believing that they have through access. This puts the safety of children at risk. The sign at Peel Street seems to be one which does catch the eye of the motorist.
OUTCOME: The officer agreed to review the position of the ‘No through Road’ sign for Quinn Street so that the sign can be better seen be approaching traffic. Modifying the sign locations will be undertaken by the end of February 2017.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: I have two items that need attention, could you arrange to fix the water Fountain at Majura pines cycle park. And I noticed this morning one traffic light is broken at the intersection of Northbourne Avenue and Wakefield. In the Southbound lane of Northbourne Avenue the red light is not working.
OUTCOME: The caller was advised that the bubbler was repaired by TCCS staff that day.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: The park & ride on Athllon Drive in Wanniassa is a great idea, but surely it would have made more sense to widen that one stretch of Athllon Drive BEFORE the park & ride??? A repeat of the Gungahlin extension!!
OUTCOME: TCCS contacted the caller and explained the reasoning for the works that were done and how we prioritise road duplications.
Directorate: Access Canberra
Issue: Can the parking inspectors (bless them) do regular sweeps on suburban streets for vehicles parked in the wrong direction.
Outcome: The caller was advised that parking inspectors often infringe vehicles for parking in the wrong direction of travel and inspectors patrol suburban areas as part of their routine patrol.
Directorate: JACS
Issue: Does illegal parking on median strips and footpaths include speed camera vehicles
Outcome: Under the Australian Road Rules, rule 307 has an exemption for authorised persons (which includes speed camera vans) which allows for them to stop and park on median strips and footpaths. Access Canberra will however ensure that pedestrians are not impacted by the camera van locations.
Directorate: EPSD
Issue: Morning, any chance of an independent been given a licence to operate the recently deserted (Caltex) service station on Drakeford Drive at Kambah?
OUTCOME: The officer explained that the site was owned by Caltex and in order for another operator to take the site they would need to approach Caltex, or Caltex would need to offer the site for sale. One of the complexities that was explained was that with an existing service station site, there is the potential for contamination from past activities and that any new operator would need to be aware of what they were entering into. The caller was also advised that the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) considers all contaminated sites where hydrocarbon is stored, including service station sites and the EPA require the sites to be assessed by environmental auditors.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Parking on the median strips on Sundays at the southside markets impedes driver visibility creating a hazard for vehicles turning R into Easty St and pedestrians crossing Launceston St.
OUTCOME: An Access Canberra officer contacted the caller to discuss the parking safety concerns around the Southside markets. The caller was advised that parking inspectors will monitor the area of concern when conducting after hours patrols.
Directorate: Access Canberra
Issue: Illegal parking on median strip by construction workers near the old magnet mart at Gungahlin. Who will fix the damaged area when infinity towers are completed? The magnet mart site is 100 m+ from the infinity towers construction site - hard to imagine the developer will reinstate this site - send some parking inspectors out instead.
OUTCOME: Parking Operations have a Licence Plate Recognition car (LPR) and will task the LPR team to patrol the area.
Directorate: EPSD
Issue: When will the owners of the Gold Creek Country Club be asked to do something about the eyesore they have created fronting Curran Drive with the development they have started 2 years ago and have done nothing with since
OUTCOME: An officer from Environment Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate (EPSDD) contacted the caller. The caller was concerned about the appearance of the site following earthworks undertaken as part of a Development Application (DA) for a carpark on indoor recreation centre, approved in October 2013. The caller said the site had been in an untidy state, with overgrown grass for some time. However he went on to say that he now understands a management company specialising in Golf Courses has been engaged by the Golf Course and are intending to tidy the site up. He said that trucks had been dumping soil on the site over the past few days.