Posted on 06/09/2018
Calls received on air
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: The caller phoned regarding the state of Telopea park. The caller said the park is slowly falling into a state of degradation due to a lack of watering and maintenance. The caller has written to the Chief Minister and the other four members for the electorate of Kurrajong to raise the issue. The caller said the Chief Ministers Office passed this on to Minister Fitzharris who said the matter is under investigation. The caller also raised it with the Kingston and Barton residence group, and they say that they first raised this two or three years ago with the minister and in the context of two successive budgets and we are still waiting for an answer. The caller also asked why the watering system was turned off.
Response: The Chief Minister said he’s advised that there has been a nature play space installed and that includes new tree planting around that space. Work is scheduled around the park under a program that the Government is supporting. But we can’t invest invest in every single park, every single budget. The Chief Minister also said that he didn’t know the detail of that particular water system but there would be two possibilities. Either the infrastructure had failed or water restrictions were in place.
OUTCOME: A TCCS officer contacted the caller and explained that the watering program changes regularly in response to weather conditions to ensure the most efficient use of potable water possible. The irrigation system is set to come on between 2am and 4am, three days per week. TCCS will continue to monitor the Telopea Park to ensure that it is being watered and maintained adequately.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: The caller rang regarding the pedestrian crossing that goes across Wattle St at Lyneham shops. The caller said she had previously brought up the issue with Jon Stanhope and Katy Gallagher and nothing has ever been done. The caller said that the parking spots that are next to the pedestrian make it difficult to see people approaching.
Response: The Chief Minister said that the removal of car parking spots would most likely not be supported by either traders or other community members. The Chief Minister said that he has received feedback from the community and that there is a demand for more car parking. He said that he cannot guarantee that the removal of 4 parking spots would be supported but that he was happy to see what we could to.
OUTCOME: caller is seeking the removal of the parking space on the southern side of Wattle Street on the approach to Brigalow Street to improve the visibility of pedestrians using the zebra pedestrian crossing. TCCS will inspect the site and assess visibility associated with the crossing and the parking spaces. The officer also explained that any removal of parking would require consultation with affected residents and businesses.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: The caller phoned to see what could be done about kids crossing Alexander Street in Red Hill. There is a crossing for the school however it is difficult to get to as there is only a small bit of nature strip which often has cars parked on it. The caller had previously raised the issue with ACT roads almost 4 or 5 years ago and the situation was deemed unsafe. They looked at the option of a road island however the road was too narrow. The caller said the need for a footpath on the left hand side of Alexander Street would help the situation and that ACT roads moved the rating of the priority from low to medium. The caller said that since then nothing has happened. The caller also suggested extending the school zone as it ends before the bottom of Alexander Street and that many children cross the road in that area.
Response: The Chief Minister understands that representative from Transport Canberra and City Services are meeting with the school and there are works planned however he is unsure if that includes works to the footpath. He said Minister Fitzharris will wait for some advice from her directorate in to what the solutions are, and he agrees that extending the school zone is a very good suggestion.
OUTCOME: TCCS is working with the school to provide improved crossing opportunities to help promote walking and cycling to school. TCCS is also working with Canberra Grammar to revise the extent of the 40km/h school time speed limit. New speed limit signs are expected to be installed by Mid-March 2018.
Directorate: Access Canberra
Issue: The caller rang regarding what the ACT Government does to ensure that building rectification orders are fulfilled. The caller had been dealing with a particular case in Greenway for five years and so far nothing has happened.
Response: The Chief Minister said he doesn’t the specifics of the callers’ case and how egregious the issue is but on face value that does seem like a long time. The Chief Minister said we have the callers details and the area within the ACT Government that monitors and seeks compliance with these matters will be familiar with the callers particular issue.
OUTCOME: The Access Canberra Investigating Officer spoke to the caller about the particular case in Greenway. The caller was provided updated information regarding the property.
Directorate: Access Canberra
Issue: The caller rang to ask what can be done about shipping containers on the front lawn. The caller has noticed that there are a number around his neighbourhood but also thinks that this must also be happening in a number of areas across Canberra.
Response: The Chief Minister said that any container on the verge or nature strip or on public land needs a permit and that it should only be temporary. If they sit fully within the lease as in away from the boundary and perhaps in a backyard then they are allowed, unless there's a proliferation of them. He said we have his details and will look at those specific ones on the callers street.
OUTCOME: An Access Canberra Building Inspector contacted the caller and provided information on Access Canberra’s regulatory process and how to lodge a complaint through Access Canberra.
Directorate: CSD – Housing
Issue: Public housing issues.
OUTCOME: An officer from Housing ACT contacted the caller to discuss the Issue on a policy change in relation to public housing tenants.
Directorate: EPSDD
Issue: Housing accessibility – Mr Altamore wishes to discuss the commitment in the Parliamentary Agreement 5.5 Universal Housing initiatives, housing affordability as well as accessibility for people with a disability and that ensuring a percentage of housing are made accessible. He did not want to speak about public housing.
OUTCOME: The caller was contacted and informed about the existing requirements in the Territory Plan and the Building Code for accessible housing and the work the Building Ministers Forum (NMF) is doing to investigate a minimum standard for new housing, and that some of the items such as a roundtable will be undertaken once the BMF has finished its work.
The caller was advised that an update was released on the Parliamentary Agreement on the CMTEDD website. The caller confirmed that they are interested in the Parliamentary Agreement items on housing affordability and has provided a follow up email which outlines further detail of what they would like information on from across the different portfolios. A written response will be provided.
Directorate: Health
Issue: Red Hill entrance to private hospital.
OUTCOME: An Officer from Health contacted the caller and his concern is the high curb, and that there is no walkway across the front of National Capital Private without navigating the traffic coming in and out of the main entrance slip lane. Health advised that they will provide the information to the relevant team to consider his concerns.
SMS/Text
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: The street light in Amaroo. Phone call in October and on line complaint early January. Still flashing, please help
OUTCOME: TCCS contacted the caller and confirmed the streetlight address and streetlight asset number. Work has been issued to the streetlight maintenance contractor for repair as a priority during the next two weeks.
Directorate: EPSDD/SLA
Issue: Where were the town planners and why was a set of traffic lights approved on arterial Drakeford Drive just north of the Isabella drive intersection to serve the new high density housing slum being built on the lakefront.
OUTCOME:
Absence of planners and high densityThe Greenway Precinct Code in the Territory plan limits the overall height of buildings to either 9.5m or 13m depending on the part of the site. The actual height and storeys of buildings on the blocks in future would have to meet these mandatory rule requirements in the Territory Plan and be subject to assessment in a future DA.
Intersections on Drakeford Drive A new signalised intersection has been constructed to provide the main access into and out of the estate in all directions in a safe manner for all road users. The former LDA engaged a specialist traffic consultant to update traffic models in the town centre and surrounding roads to include the Southquay development. These traffic volumes generated by the consultant were accepted by TCCS and were used in the traffic modelling for Greenway East. The detailed traffic model was prepared for Greenway East to determine the impact of the development on the operation of Drakeford Drive in both AM and PM peaks and was found to be acceptable to TCCS.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Further to the Telopea Park caller-The suburb of Crace is an absolute weed jungle again. I have raised this matter personally with Minister Fitzharris in the past and little ever appears to happen. Time to step up to plate Mr Barr.
OUTCOME: TCCS are currently working towards targeting weeds in a number of priority areas, including Crace.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Why has the Government decided to upgrade the Forde and Bonner Section of Horse Park Drive before he highway ends?
OUTCOME: An officer from TCCS contacted the caller to discuss the timings of the duplication works along Horse Park Drive. The section from Well Station Drive to the Federal Highway will start soon, however it has been delayed due to the environmental approvals required in this location. These works are scheduled to commence in April 2018 and are expected to take approximately 12 months to complete.
Directorate: EPSDD - Planning
Issue: What is happening at the corner of Truscott Street and Fairbairn Avenue, where the Defence Houses were?
OUTCOME: - The land is Designated and falls under NCA control. The NCA are redeveloping the site for more defence housing.
Directorate: EPSD
Issue: I would like to know who I can talk to about the replacement program for gas heating and duct.
OUTCOME: The caller was contacted and advised that, gas heating and ductwork is part of the program of the Energy Efficiency Improvement Scheme (EEIS). This is a retailer obligation scheme and ActewAGL selected their contractors through a competitive tender process. The caller was invited to attend the EEIS Forum which was on Tuesday 27 February to discuss their ideas and participate in the scheme.
Since 2013 the ACT Government's EEIS has assisted more than 70,000 households and 1,400 businesses to reduce their energy use, including over 17,800 low income priority households. It has been an integral part of the ACT government’s climate change strategy to achieve the ACT’s 40% emission reduction target by 2020.
The scheme is due to conclude in December 2020 and the ACT government is looking at how the ACT can achieve net zero emissions by 2050 (or earlier). Therefore the ACT Government has commissioned an independent implementation review of the scheme to identify what it has achieved and ways in which it can be improved, including possible options beyond 2020.
Directorate: Treasury
Issue: Can you please ask the chief minister why the age for a seniors card has been increased to 61 from 1 July when most states isue one at age 60 seems inconsistent with his statement about helping those in need.
OUTCOME: As the Canberra population ages there will be a significant financial impact on the cost of our concessions program. Increasing the eligibility age for the senior’s card to better reflect increased life expectancies will enable the program to remain financially sustainable into the future, and is in line with Commonwealth changes to the aged pension.
Directorate: Health
Issue: Chief Minister: re TCH A&E. There is a door into A&E from the internal corridor, that appears to be locked most of the time. If a disabled person parks under radiology building, they have to walk (or wheelchair) ALL the way around the front of the building
OUTCOME: An Officer from Health contacted the caller and advised that a project is currently underway to relocate the ED access door.
Directorate: CMTEDD
Issue: Chief Minister Barr, as the NSW Government puts insufficient effort & funds into progressing south east NSW, including Nowra, Eden & Cooma, do you think a new state could be created for the region with Canberra as the Capital?
OUTCOME: CMTEDD spoke to the caller and broadly detailed the governance structures the ACT Government has with the NSW Government and the surrounding councils across the South East and Tablelands.