Posted on 24/12/2018
Calls received on air
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Caller phoned enquiring about missing and damaged 60km/hr speed signs at the intersection of Barr Smith Avenue and Hurtle Avenue in Bonython.
Response: The Deputy Chief Minister said the appropriate area of government will look into what has happened to the signs.
OUTCOME: The caller was contacted and advised that the damaged and missing 60km/h signs would be replaced.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Caller phoned concerning an expired My WAY card. The card could not be used even though it had credit on it and he was advised this was because it hadn’t been used for two years. The caller would like to know what the current policy is and if it is to suspend the card after two years?
Response: The Deputy Chief Minister confirmed we will take the issue on notice and obtain further information for the caller.
OUTCOME: The caller was contacted and advised that the credit on the expired card can be transferred to a current/new card once it is registered.
Directorate: EPSDD
Issue: Caller phoned with concerns about a lack of off street parking for residents in Lawson and this causing a hazard for pedestrians and other vehicles.
Response: The Deputy Chief Minister said we will take the caller’s details and look into the issues she has raised. Regarding planning, there are national standards around street parking and the ACT adheres to the standards. In this particular situation for Lawson, we will obtain more information about exactly where it's occurring so that we can provide advice to residents.
Action: Please contact the caller
OUTCOME: The caller was contacted and advised that the Parking Operations Team in Access Canberra will be made aware of illegal parking for consideration for enforcement patrols in the area. The caller and EPSDD officer discussed that signage and information for residents on where to park would improve the situation. These ideas will be passed on to the relevant sections in TCCS. The caller suggested that future development stages of Lawson should consider better parking provision both on- and off-street to accommodate resident and visitor cars. Parking matters will be raised at the cross-directorate Parking Working Group for information and consideration. In addition, the caller raised concerns about the Baldwin Drive/Stockman Avenue intersection and the lack of traffic calming measures in the streets of Lawson. These concerns will be passed on to TCCS for their consideration.
SMS/TEXT
Directorate: EPSD
Issue: Can we have a cull or open season on currawongs? They are killing all the small birds that eat the small insects and they also cause much work for fruit growers.
Response: The Deputy Chief Minister said she does not know that culling would be the answer for this issue.
OUTCOME: The caller was advised that to support a cull or open season, Government would need to rigorously assess the currawong population and the impact they have. This requires considerable resources but is not entirely unheard of in other areas around Australia and the world. In the ACT conservation resources are focused on threatened species and high conservation areas such as box-gum woodland. Existing resources are used to conserve species such as woodland birds by managing threats like weeds and pests. The caller was advised that conservation resources are focused on high priority areas and that determining the impact of currawongs in the urban area is not a current priority.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Sutton rd still 80ks even though road upgrade is complete and I was told by TAMS that the limit would rise to 100 like the nsw half of road.
Response: The Deputy Chief Minister said we will take the caller’s details and find out where this is up to.
OUTCOME: The caller was advised the Directorate would review the speed limit on the ACT section of Sutton Road.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: I was told my My card had expired last week even though it had credit on it.
Response: The Deputy Chief Minister confirmed we will seek clarification on the issue.
OUTCOME: The caller was advised that the credit on the expired card can be transferred to a current/new card once it is registered.
SMS/Texts that didn’t make it to air
Directorate: Access Canberra
Issue: Hi. There is still an issue of cars parking illegally at the Southside Farmers Market. They park on the grass nature strip and middle section of Launceston st outside Canberra college. It makes it impossible to see any cars coming when you are trying to e (text cut off)
OUTCOME: The caller was advised that Parking Operations is aware of the issue and as a result the Licence Plate Recognition van had issued 420 infringements in Launceston Street this year.
The caller was further advised that the bicycle lanes have been repainted and there are new ‘no parking’ signs in the area.
The caller expressed their appreciation and noted that the area had improved. The caller also acknowledged that parking inspectors cannot be at the Market at all times.
Directorate: Access Canberra
Issue: We regularly have cars parking on the verge beside or in some cases on the pedestrian crossing leading into our Primary School. Can you please advise whether this should be dealt with by the Police or by parking rangers? Each tells me the other is respons (text cut off)
OUTCOME: The caller was advised that Parking Operations can take action in most cases where there are illegally parked vehicles on road related areas, particularly pedestrian/school crossings including action were there are ‘line of site’ issues on nature strips and blocked footpaths.
The officer provided information about the Licence Plate Recognition van being utilised to improve road safety around schools particularly at drop off and pick up times. The caller was advised that Parking Operations will continue to monitor the area.
Directorate: EPSD
Issue: Good morning. An ACT Govt website says "AII electricity will be delivered using renewable energy by 2020. How is this possible at night or when there is no wind? Anyway, does not the ACT not in practice draw most of its electricity from the national grid a (text cut off)
OUTCOME: The caller was contacted and advised that while some of the ACT’s renewable electricity (rooftop and large scale solar) is generated and consumed within the ACT, the wind generation produced by interstate wind farms is not directly used in the ACT.
The officer clarified that the 100% target is an annual average that accounts for periods of reduced wind or solar generation.