Posted on 12/02/2020
Calls received on air
Directorate: Access Canberra
Issue: The caller owns a unit in Symphony Park, Harrison, and their family is having trouble sleeping due to the noise. What can be done?
OUTCOME: Access Canberra officers spoke to the caller regarding this matter. The caller was advised that Access Canberra was aware of the concerns he had raised and these matters were currently being considered. Access Canberra building inspectors had conducted an inspection of the external parts of the building, with further inspections of the internal elements of the building to be arranged through the caller and the Owners Corporation. In undertaking this proposed inspection, Access Canberra will include specific consideration of the areas identified by the caller. Based on the findings of this inspection, Access Canberra will determine whether further action is required. This may involve evidence from an engineers’ report or the like, to substantiate whether the building was subject to defects under the Building Code of Australia. The caller’s concerns were acknowledged and advised that a process was in place to fully investigate his concerns.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Two issues in Bonython. Firstly, the gum trees on the edge of the oval overhang neighbouring properties and may pose a risk in the case of heavy storms or a bushfire. Secondly, could street lighting please be improved? The caller is concerned about safety.
OUTCOME: TCCS officer contacted caller regarding the streetlights to verify the location. TCCS will undertake a streetlight urban infill assessment and add this location to the priority list for consideration in a future infill program. The trees have already been assessed and a general prune and deadwood removal has been programmed and is expected to be undertaken within 6 months.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Could an assessment please be done of the trees along Yamba Drive? They are leaning towards the road at an alarming angle and seem quite old. Also, are there any plans to upgrade Boboyan Road on the ACT side?
OUTCOME: The caller was contacted and advised that further gravel upgrades will occur on Boboyan Road and are expected to be completed in the first half of 2020. The trees along Yamba Drive will be assessed and any works required to ensure the safety of the public and road users will programmed as required.
Calls that didn’t make it to air
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Re-sealing the ACT side of the Federal Highway
OUTCOME: TCCS officer contacted caller regarding Federal Highway pending works and was advised that rectification works on this stretch of road would be undertaken early in December.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Concerned about road safety near Anketell St roadworks, particularly for children.
OUTCOME: An officer from TCCS contacted the caller and discussed his concerns about Anketell Street. The customer appreciated enquired about the new bus schedule in Tuggeranong as well as Anketell Street noting that current speed limit signage was confusing. The TCCS officer discussed the continuing work to improve the area, including the possibility of rerouting buses into Cowlishaw Street.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: The size of trees planted in Holt
OUTCOME: An officer from TCCS contacted the caller and discussed the size and appropriateness of her street tree. The tree has been pruned and the caller felt the officers had not removed enough from the tree. TCCS staff are experienced arborists and prune as appropriate to maintain the health of the tree. Over pruning can be damaging to tree health.
SMS/TEXT
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Please fix and maintain the cycle lane along Pialligo Avenue
OUTCOME: An officer from TCCS contacted caller to discuss his concerns regarding the debris and rough surface in the cycle lanes along Pialligo Ave, as well as a narrowing of the cycle lane in one (or more) locations. A TCCS officer will inspect the site/s and rectify any issues in relation to debris on the cycle path. Any repairs will be scheduled within the path repair program.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: There are two mounds of rubble that have been dumped near the “Pinnacle”/large water tank on Springvale Drive blocking access to the emergency gate. Could this please be removed?
OUTCOME: TCCS officers attended the site and removed the pile of rubble to free access to the emergency gate.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Have there been any changes the rules regarding nature strips? Someone has put asphalt over theirs.
OUTCOME: An officer from TCCS has contacted the caller to discuss the rules for nature strips in the ACT. All non-approved nature strip activity is referred to the City Rangers to investigate further and take compliance action as required. Information regarding the rules can be found on the TCCS website.
Directorate: Access Canberra
Issue: Why are taxpayers footing the bill for the Morris/Kingston apartment faults? The company should be covering the costs.
OUTCOME: An Access Canberra officer contacted the caller regarding this matter. The caller was advised that while the ACT Government had funded temporary propping at the site, the it intends to reclaim the costs of the rectification work from the building company responsible for the Kingston Place Apartments. The recovery of these costs may be sought through legal means if necessary.
Directorate: Treasury
Issue: How is the ACT Government alone going to foot the $1.5B bill for light rail stage 2?
OUTCOME: The constituent’s primary concern was a perceived lack of consultation with the community on the setting of infrastructure priorities in the infrastructure plan and was advised:
- The Government’s sustainable investment over time is a key component of the plan and capacity is in the order of $750m per year.
- The infrastructure plan provides a vision for the future of infrastructure priorities.
- The plan provides the Canberra’s community a better understanding of our city’s current a future-needs to inform ongoing discussion on infrastructure priorities.
- The planning does not have a set time period and will be regularly updated.
- There is an opportunity to provide input into the annual Community Consultation Budget process.
Directorate: CMTEDD (Economic Development)
Issue: NCA inspectors have been booking taxi drivers for using the temporary Floriade rank which has been traditionally located in front of the bus zone. Passengers must now phone for a taxi despite it being clearly marked on the Floriade map.
OUTCOME: The caller was contacted and advised there is no dedicated taxi rank approved for Floriade. The traffic management plan submitted to the NCA defines a taxi pick-up and drop-off area only. This is adjacent to the main Regatta Point entrance and marked on the publicly available map.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Following a fire in July, a Theodore property near the school was surrounded by a fence which extends across the bike path. While this may have been appropriate at the time on account of debris from the fire, surely that has been remedied by now. Could access please be restored to the path?
OUTCOME: An officer from TCCS has contacted caller and discussed the concerns of the obstruction to bike path in Theodore. TCCS officers will undertake site inspection and determine further action necessary to remove the obstruction from bike path.
Directorate: CMTEDD (Economic Development)
Issue: What can the Government do to upgrade the Phillip swimming pool and ice rink?
OUTCOME: The caller was contacted and advised that because the Phillip Swimming and Ice-Skating Centre is privately owned/operated, any upgrade of this facility is a matter for the owner to consider.
The caller raised additional questions regarding the EOI for the ACT Ice Sport Facility and was informed that the process is ongoing, and no information can be provided for probity reasons.