Chief Minister Talkback Summary - 28 September 2018


Posted on 18/10/2018

Calls received on air

Directorate: Access Canberra

Issue: Caller phoned with a residential parking issue in the Inner North. The resident parks on their driveway to avoid parking on the street as they are in close proximity to a shopping precinct and like to leave street parking for customers. The resident has been fined for parking on their driveway and requested a residential permit for their particular circumstances.

Response: The Chief Minister said there is a scheme in the ACT and that we will see what we can do in your particular circumstances.

OUTCOME: An Access Canberra officer (the officer) contacted the caller to discuss residential permits. The caller advised they live in a 4 bedroom home in Lyneham, near the shops with 4 vehicles (one of which is a furniture van) and that 3 of their vehicles were infringed for parking on their nature strip and driveway. The officer advised the caller that residential parking permits did exist, mainly for units and flats in the city precinct, but they have since been phased out.

The infringements were not issued by the Licence Plate Recognition (LPR) van and that the foot patrol look at risk and harm when considering to issue an infringement which includes ‘line of sight’ issues and blocked footpaths. The officer informed the caller of their parking review options but she has already paid the infringements.


Directorate: EPSDD

Issue: Caller phoned requesting further information about zoning and the proposal for a waste facility in Fyshwick.

Response: Chief Minister said that the ACT has a statutorily independent development assessment process. There is no proposal to change the zoning in the area, so any development proposal would have to be consistent with the zoning on that land. The Chief Minister will check with the Minister for Planning regarding future plans for Fyshwick, however is not proposing any change.

OUTCOME: The caller was contacted and the Environmental Impact Statement process and specific complaints relating to dust pollution from nearby waste businesses were discussed. Assessable uses in the IZ2 – Industrial Mixed Use Zone Development Table and the process for draft variations to the Territory Plan were also discussed. As a follow up to the call, EPA was advised of the complaints relating to waste businesses and the Territory Plan team was advised of the concerns raised including that waste related facilities in Fyshwick are not compatible with the surrounding uses.


Directorate: TCCS

Issue: Latham Dog park fence needs replacing.

Action: Please contact the caller.

OUTCOME: An officer from TCCS contacted the caller and discussed a range of issues.


SMS/TEXT

Directorate: CMTEDD – Treasury

Issue: Gungahlin swimming pool has tiles coming off the wall forcing the closure of a lane. This has been the case for many months. When will it be fixed?

Response: The issue is being investigated, no timeframe but will get in touch with caller.

OUTCOME: The caller was and advised they have been investigating this matter for some time and two independent engineers have provided reports on the tiling issue which appears to be the adhesive used on the tiles.


Directorate: EPSDD

Issue: Hi Chief Minister - how can we stop developers from removing regulated trees? The DA is about to be submitted!

OUTCOME: The constituent was contacted regarding the redevelopment of the old AFP site (Block 1 Section 82 Weston). In particular, the developer is undertaking pre consultation and felt they were not listening to the resident’s concerns about the loss of trees, current traffic problems in the area and housing mix and types.

The caller was advised that when the development application (DA) is lodged it will be publicly notified on the planning and land authority web site and a sign will be placed on the block with the full DA proposal and instructions and timeframes on how to make a representation. All representations received during the public notification period will be taken into consideration by the DA team.


Directorate: Access Canberra

Issue: My wife yesterday received a letter stating her ACT drivers licence will be suspended in 10 days time due to a report regarding having had a craniotomy, the letter quotes her drivers licence number with her name and address, she has not had any surgery.

OUTCOME: The client was contacted by Access Canberra following an investigation into the matter where it was explained that the correspondence had been sent in error and that no licence suspension would follow. Access Canberra apologised for any concerns caused and provided direct contact details for subsequent concerns regarding the issue. The client expressed an understanding that occasionally mistakes happen and was otherwise satisfied with the outcome.


Directorate: CMTEDD-  Economic Development

Issue: Hi Chief Minister Just wondering if there may be any plans for a budget airline at Canberra airport? So expensive to travel by air from Canberra.

OUTCOME: Promoting the ACT and Canberra region as a tourism destination continues to be a priority for ACT Government. Tigerair now operates eight services between Melbourne and Canberra and three services between Brisbane and Canberra per week. Following Tigerair’s successful entry into the Canberra market, the ACT Government is seeking to attract additional low cost carriers to service the Capital.


Directorate: JACS

Issue: Could consideration be given to increasing the number of Public Notaries? An internet search shows that there are about 6 or 7, mostly located in the Manuka or Civic area, and in trying to make an appointment, two did not return my calls.

OUTCOME: It was explained to the caller that a list of about 15 ACT Notaries Public is available on the ACT Supreme Court website, which he wasn’t aware of.  As a consequence of the call, the Courts contacted the ACT Notaries Public on the Supreme court website, making sure their contact details on the website are up-to-date and are examining ways to improve the internet search for the ACT Supreme Court Public Notaries webpage.


Directorate: EPSDD/Access Canberra/TCCS

Issue: Good morning, I was just wondering what the rules are around putting a shipping container on a small block in Hawker are please? This has been done on a block in Epenarra & all of the soil/dirt has been dumped on the nature strip (Springvale Drive)

OUTCOME: Access Canberra has contacted the caller to discuss the concerns about the block in Hawker. Access Canberra itemised the complaint into two issues, firstly placing a shipping container on the block possibly without approval and secondly dumping building materials and rubbish on the verge. Following an inspection on 4 October 2018 by Access Canberra, the block in Hawker was identified and it was determined that the shipping container is considered a Class 10 structure as per the Building Code of Australia. The size of the container (approximate 29sqm) exceeds the size limit for the block (max 25sqm for a block size between 500 and 600sqm) to make it exempt from a development approval, therefore a development approval is required. Building approval is not required in this instance. No development approvals are recorded for placing of the shipping container within the block. This matter is now referred to Access Canberra’s Compliance Section for enforcement of the ACT building and planning law requirements. Access Canberra has contacted the Transport Canberra and City Services Directorate to address the dumping of rubbish on the verge.