Chief Minister Talkback Summary - 2 February 2018


Posted on 02/03/2018

Calls received on air

For follow-up from 2 February 2018

Untitled Document

Directorate: TCCS

Issue: The caller phoned regarding Amaroo School and the danger of its proximity to Horse Park Drive as an 80kmph road. The caller noted that as school kids leave at 3pm many head to cross Horse Park Drive. The caller said that the traffic island is quite narrow and is not safe for the amount of children to exit out of school. The caller suggested the speed limit be reduced to 60 on that particular stretch of road.

Response: The Chief Minister said we'll happily look at that issue and that speed and the pedestrian arrangements around Amaroo School.

OUTCOME: The caller’s main concern is the speed of traffic on Horse Park Drive, in particular the speed of trades people in the afternoon when children are departing school. TCCS will contact ACT policing and request that this site be considered for speed enforcement.


Directorate:  TCCS

Issue: The caller rang to enquire as to why figures had suddenly appeared on her path. She rang Canberra Connect who advised that it was a Government initiative. The caller said that the figures don’t appear to lead to anything but there are a lot on Wisdom street (Hughes). The caller also said that when they put them in, they were sent out a survey about their suburb and the map was so poor that she couldn't even find her street in it.

Response: The Chief Minister advised it was an initiative launched right across the territory to mark out safe paths for primary school aged students to be able to walk to school, a walk right to school. Perhaps one additional marking might help, in the context of the issues Ruth has raised, and we'll get the team to have a look at that.

OUTCOME: An officer from TCCS contacted the caller and left a detailed message explaining the Active Streets for Schools Program. The blue stencils installed near Hughes Primary School and the maps provided to schools, are used to encourage children to utilise safe routes to schools.


Directorate: TCCS

Issue: The caller rang to enquire why half a dozen big loads of road base have been delivered to the Anthill Street end of the Watson dog park.

Response: The Chief Minister advised that a number of roads in the inner north were currently being resurfaced. The Chief Minister also said he will get confirmation that there was no work to be done within the dog park.

OUTCOME: An officer from TCCS left a message for the caller and summarised that the gravel has been stockpiled in the open space between Watson and North Watson, at the top of Antill Street for trail remediation work, to address erosion and drainage issues. It is expected that works will be undertaken in April and May for 2-3 weeks, to repair the existing trail. Upgrade of the carpark in the area will also be undertaken, which will improve the current surface.


Directorate: TCCS

Issue: The caller rang to express concern regarding one of the bridges over Lake Ginninderra as it has no safety barrier. The caller noted that it was bridge closest to the Gungahlin Waters.

Response: The Chief Minister thanked the caller for raising the issue and said he’ll get the team to have a look at it.

OUTCOME: An officer from TCCS contacted the caller to discuss the specific location of the bridge which is in close proximity to Kangara Waters. An officer from TCCS has inspected the bridge and identified that the bridge has a railing on the outer edge however, no barrier between the traffic lane and the footpath. TCCS will assess this from an engineering and safety point of view and depending on the outcomes of this assessment, additional barriers will be considered for inclusion in future programs.


Directorate: EPSD

Issue:  The caller lives close by to a house in Kambah that has been in the process of demolition for two to three years. The caller wants to know what the rules were regarding how long people can take to knock down a house.

Response: The Chief Minister said it will vary depending on whether a development approval has been lodged and that we will get the details of the block and get back to the caller.

OUTCOME: The caller was contacted and advised that a development application for the site had been approved in October 2011 for alterations to the existing dwelling, the construction of a second dwelling and subdivision of the block. The approval of the development application would expire if work had not commenced within two years, and that a further two years was allowed to complete the work. The caller was advised to contact the compliance team of Access Canberra if they were concerned with site safety issues or the length of time to complete construction.


Directorate: Health

Issue: The caller is concerned about the plastic waste created by the Canberra Hospital giving patients multiple bottles of water.

Response: The Chief Minister said he will need to take some advice from Health on the specifics of this issue. But, at face value it would seem sensible to reduce the amount.

OUTCOME: The caller indicated that they were concerned about the cost of providing plastic water bottles to patients at each meal, and the waste that would be generated as a result. ACT Health provided the caller with information about the processes and requirements that would be associated with the provision of water jugs to patients instead of water bottles. The caller was informed that all plastic bottles are collected and recycled, and that ACT Health does have a Resource Management Plan in place and does look for opportunities to reduce waste and increase recycling where possible. In relation to UCPH it was noted that water jugs would be provided to patients at this facility.


Directorate: CSD

Issue: The caller rang to enquire if the ACT government in a position to keep an eye on what sort of services Veterans organizations provide and ensure that they are helping the veterans and supporting and not doing more damage?

Response: The Chief Minister said we would want to have the resources that we apply in both the local policy effort together with our advocacy to the Australian for programs and for veterans in the ACT for those programs in support to be making a positive difference, not reinforcing existing difficulties or concerns. If there are specific issues that we can follow up on, we've got your contact details.

OUTCOME: The caller was contacted and advice was provided, no further action required.


Directorate: TCCS

Issue: The caller rang to express his concern about the traffic and speeding in Long Moore Cres in Wanniassa.

Response: The Chief Minister said we’ll get roads ACT to look into it.

OUTCOME: An officer from TCCS contacted the caller and advised that Roads ACT is aware of the speeding along Longmore Crescent and traffic data is currently being collected in the area. A detailed design for the implementation of traffic calming measures on Longmore Crescent, is currently being considered.


SMS/TEXT

Directorate: TCCS

Issue: "Good morning Adam and chief minister. Is the chief able to give any information on the progress of street lighting upgrades, maintenance, et cetera? There are no streetlights at all working in my street Naas cl Amaroo. I have listed a question on my fix my street some months ago on the webpage" Additional text: Further info re streetlights in Naas Close - the lights actually faded over the last 6 months or so, getting dimmer and dimmer until now the street is completely dark.

Response: The Chief Minister said that in regards to that specific street we will look into it. He also said more broadly the government is undertaking a very extensive renewal of the entire streetlight network in the city with two main areas of focus. One being to improve the environmental efficiency of the network, so that’s a change in lighting technology. Two, to move to lighting that uses less energy. And that also clearly saves a lot of money for road payers.

OUTCOME: The streetlight maintenance contractor changed one of the five light fittings on 2 February 2018.  The site was attended again on 13 February 2018 and repairs were undertaken on the streetlight control box and one streetlight. All lights were confirmed operational after the repairs were completed.


Directorate: TCCS/Access Canberra

Issue: I reside in Lawson. Despite contacting Access Canberra and the Local Member re concerns about rubbish in suburb from building sites, there has been no noticeable improvement. This includes rubbish in the waterways.

Response: The Chief Minister said it would depend on the nature of the building materials and that if it has already been raised with Access Canberra, he’ll speak to them and see what the particular response that we're able to provide.

OUTCOME: An officer from TCCS contacted the caller and advised that TCCS would make additional efforts to remove litter in the area. A clean-up of the waterways in Lawson including, Lake Ginninderra is scheduled to be complete by Friday 16 February 2018. City rangers will increase their presence in this area and ensure builders comply with current litter laws.


Directorate: TCCS

Issue: Hello, Thanks for the excellent upgrade at the Spence Shops. However the gardens are in need of maintenance already with lots of weeds growing. Who will be responsible for the ongoing maintenance please?

OUTCOME: A TCCS officer contacted the caller and explained that it is the shopkeeper’s responsibility to maintain the area, however TCCS would help with the maintenance through the year if the shopkeepers do not keep up appearances.


Directorate: TCCS

Issue: I recently reported a problem with a fence backing onto a cycle way this gave open access to a pool, pailings missing and easy access for children. This was reported via Fix my street.

OUTCOME: A TCCS officer contacted the caller who stated that she phoned Chief Ministers Talkback to say what a good job TCCS rangers have done in arranging for the safety issue to be quickly addressed and was very pleased with the outcome.


Directorate: TCCS

Issue: Does the ACT government still paid for the front part of broken driveways?

OUTCOME: A TCCS officer contacted the caller who wanted to know about whether the ACT Government maintains private driveways or not. The ACT Government does maintain driveways up to the property boundary and damaged driveways can be reported through Fix My Street or by calling Access Canberra.


Directorate: TCCS

Issue: Good morning Adam & Chief Minister. When road works start and lanes get blocked and reduced from 2 to 1, speed restrictions come into place work progresses very slowly. Most of the time THERE ARE NO workmen on site. For example, Cotter Rd past Tuggeranong.

OUTCOME: A TCCS officer contacted the caller and left a message. Lanes are often closed and speeds reduced when there is a hazard on the road like an excavation or an unsafe road surface. This is for driver and worker safety.


Directorate: Health

Issue: Question for Chief Minister: the ED at TCH continues to be in the news for expensive care. When will ACT Government mandate more Nurse Practitioners to reduce expenses, provide high quality care and give career progression for the ACT Nurses?

OUTCOME: The 2017 NP review recommendation are currently being progressed. Both projects are being managed from the Office of the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer.


Directorate: JACS/TCCS

Issue: Why are school crossing not also pedestrian crossing out of hours. A potential confusion for younger kids who don't understand why car not stopping on weekends

OUTCOME:  An officer from the TCCS Schools Program contacted the caller and left a detailed message explaining the Active Streets for Schools program. The explanation included information about the blue stencils installed near Hughes Primary School and the maps provided to schools to encourage utilising safe routes to participating schools. The constituent was provided with a direct phone number if they wanted to receive further information about the program.

Children’s crossing are usually part time crossings that operate before, during and after school.  They are normally identified by stop lines and parallel lines across the road, and red and white posts and children crossing flags or children’s crossing signs and twin yellow lights.  They only operate as a crossing when the flags or signs and lights are displayed. Having the crossings designated by flags or signs and lights adds a warning to drivers that is not usually present at pedestrian crossings. Drivers must approach a children’s crossing at a speed at which they can, if necessary, stop safely before the crossing.  They must also stop near to, but before, the stop line if a hand held stop sign is displayed, or a pedestrian is on or entering the crossing, and not proceed until there is no pedestrian on the crossing and any hand held stop sign is no longer displayed or are otherwise indicated to proceed. While children’s crossing only operate when the flags or signs and lights are displayed the majority of drivers would stop for a child approaching or crossing the road at one of these places at a time when it was not active.


Directorate: TCCS

Issue: The creek in the reserve behind Edmondson St in Campbell is choked with vegetation, most not native, so some of the water draining down from Mt Ainslie always remains and lies stagnant, encouraging mosquitoes. We can hear frogs, but they are obviously fi (text cuts off)

OUTCOME: A TCCS officer spoke to the caller and advised that due to the warmer than average temperatures and low rainfall this year, the number of mosquitoes have increased. Another contributing factor may also be due to the mosquitoes breeding in other areas aside from the creek such as ponds and pools. The weeds within the creek were also beneficial in stabilising the banks during high flows and filtering sediments. The TCCS officer advised that they would notify Roads Maintenance in respect to the stormwater capacity and would have them inspect the area.


Directorate: TCCS

Issue: Morning Adam and minister, can you ask minister, why the there is the need to resurface the roads in Ainslie when the materials being used doesn’t really make any difference to the road comfort, it really seems a waste of money.

OUTCOME: TCCS contacted the caller and left a message. Resealing is a preventative maintenance treatment and is effective in prolonging the life of the road and avoids costly reconstruction. Initially resealing surface is rough and generates loose stones compared to asphalt however, over time the stones are pushed into bitumen by traffic and loose stones are removed by multiple sweeping, conducted by Roads ACT.


Directorate: Education

Issue: What if I want to do specific subjects only offered by certain ACT colleges? This new area based system restricts my options and therefore my right to fair education.

OUTCOME: The caller is concerned about restricted options for subject choice at ACT colleges for NSW students. The arrangements agreed with the NSW Government for NSW students place these students on the same footing as ACT students. For several years now enrolments from students resident in the ACT have been growing at the fastest rate in Australia. As a consequence, the capacity for some ACT colleges to accept out of area ACT students, is becoming increasingly constrained and, under ACT enrolment policy, ACT resident students will be given priority for any out of area capacity in colleges, where this exists. The ACT Government will continue to provide education services to NSW residents. When a NSW resident applies to enrol in the Canberra public school system they will be offered places in a few selected schools in a NSW pathway. Information about NSW Pathway Schools is available from NSW Resident Enrolments webpage on the ACT Education Directorate’s website.


Directorate: TCCS

Issue: Question for the chief minister, once again the Government is promoting using the bus to get to the cricket but by the time the game has finished the buses have gone to bed. How can I use public transport when it is not running. What's the point of a spec (Text cut off)

OUTCOME: Customers can utilise the services of buses to the cricket, by parking at one of the major bus stations at the City and Woden, and then continue on and catch the bus to Manuka. This minimises the issue of parking at the venue, as parking is limited. At the end of the game, bus services then return to major centres in time to connect with the Rapid services to Belconnen, Gungahlin and Tuggeranong. If the event finishes late and the normal timetable for suburban services are complete for the day, the public can still utilise services such as ACT Taxi and Uber to complete their journey. Transport Canberra will be implementing a new network in 2018 and will be seeking customer feedback through the YourSay website in late February 2018. This feedback will be included in the consultation.