Chief Minister Talkback Summary - 17 May 2019


Posted on 08/07/2022

Calls received on air

Directorate: TCCS

Issue: Lack of signage at the entrance of Joy Cummings Place. It used to be there, could it be replaced?

OUTCOME: The caller was contacted and advised the signs were removed as a part of the Aikman Dr upgrade. New signs consistent with the requirements of the road upgrade will be installed by August 2019.


Directorate: TCCS

Issue: Poor visibility at the corner of Kingsford-Smith Drive and Krefft Street. This is particularly an issue during school pick-up and drop-off times.

OUTCOME: The caller was contacted to discuss concerns about poor visibility on the corner of Kingsford Smith Drive and Krefft Crescent in Florey. TCCS will inspect the shrubs and trees located on the medium strip and prune where needed to provide better line of sight.


Directorate: EPSDD

Issue: When was Katoomba Park, Campbell, named and why does it have that name? It does not seem to fit with the military theme of names in that suburb. Similarly, some of the new place names in the C5 development are French. How does these fit with the theme?

OUTCOME: Katoomba Park is not an official name under the Place Names Act 1989 and is not recognised by the ACT Government or recorded on our mapping systems. It may be a local name adopted by someone with connections to HMAS Katoomba, a Bathurst-class corvette mine sweeper constructed during WW2 (1940-41) which was sold for scrap metal in 1957. Katoomba Park is shown on Google Earth which is not an authoritative source with no reference to its origin.

The three roads in C5 were notified in 2014 and are all named after Defence personnel being: Kalma Lane, commemorating Lance Corporal John Henry Kalma, Army; Pentland Street, commemorating Squadron Leader Alexander Augustus Norman Dudley (Jerry) Pentland, Army and Air Force; Proven Street, commemorating Third Officer Frances Betty Provan WRANS, Navy.

The C5 park is named Hassett Park, commemorating General Francis (Frank) Hassett.

The ACT Government has no authority over the names of private developments or buildings (including C5) which are selected by the developers to suit their own purposes.


Directorate: JACS

Issue: Could the ACT’s rules on registration of historic cars be made consistent with those in place in NSW and Victoria?

OUTCOME: The caller was contacted to advise the ACT Government is gathering information about NSW arrangements, but current NSW day‑based arrangements are still in trial which will be evaluated following its conclusion.

The caller discussed existing arrangements and how they may be utilised to keep his vehicle in good running order – options for slightly longer runs to get vehicle up to temperature without abusing the arrangements.


Directorate: Health Directorate

Issue: The rehabilitation/physiotherapy program for patients recovering from heart surgery is excellent, but not very well promoted. Could the Government look at options to improve promotion of that program.

OUTCOME: The caller was contacted to adviser that while the service is provided in an outpatient setting, people generally join the program after they come to our attention via an inpatient admission or as a result of attending our ED.

The caller was advised of the limitations to expansion of this program to a community health setting, and that the Heart Foundation perform an education and awareness role for these matters.


Calls that didn’t make it to air

Directorate: TCCS

Issue: Lighting in civic

OUTCOME: When contacted, the caller advised they had noticed the streetlights along Northbourne Avenue between the Sydney and Melbourne Buildings were out at the beginning of May 2019. TCCS confirmed there was a complex cable fault in the area. The lights were restored and confirmed as operational since 15 May 2019.


Directorate: TCCS

Issue: State of footpaths

OUTCOME: A TCCS Officer has contacted the caller who was advised there is a programme of planned regular footpath inspections for suburbs, but that TCCS do rely on reports from the public regarding paths that require maintenance outside of these inspections.


Directorate: EPSDD

Issue: Dam levels in the ACT

OUTCOME: The caller was contacted and expressed their concerns that the ACT not having adequate water security to match a growing population with a drying environment through the impacts of climate change, and was concerned about status of the Murrumbidgee to Googong (M2G) transfer. The caller noted that our current storage level is 57.52% and Icon’s website outlined the M2G would be enabled when storage levels dropped down to 62%.

The caller was advised that Icon Water currently has the M2G in standby mode. Standby mode enables Icon Water to conduct regular exercises to meet engineering standards for maintenance. This involves operating the pumps and transferring water via the pipeline over a few days, approximately every three months.

Icon Water advise that they may start to consider switching M2G from standby mode to operating mode when water levels drop below 62%. However, this is dependent on a number of factors including the continued drying conditions, the management of environmental flows in the Murrumbidgee River and the available storage capacity of each dam. For example, water can be delivered from dams in the Brindabella Mountains to Canberra’s urban suburbs by gravity, whereas transferring water uphill from the Murrumbidgee River to Googong using pumps is more costly.

Icon Water is currently monitoring Murrumbidgee River levels and forecasts for the opportunity to move M2G into operation mode to support storage in Googong Dam.


Directorate: TCCS

Issue: Starting time for light rail services on the weekend is too late.

OUTCOME: The caller was contacted and advised that while bus services previously operated from 7am on weekends, light rail services commence at 6am Saturdays and 8am on Sundays and Public Holidays.


Directorate: TCCS

Issue: A wrecked car in Tillyard Drive, Charnwood, has not yet been removed. There is also another burnt out car in a similar area.

OUTCOME: The caller was contacted to advise City Rangers have attended the location of an abandoned motor vehicle on Tillyard Drive and tagged it for removal by towing contractor.


SMS/Text

Directorate: CMTEDD (Economic Development)

Issue: Why isn’t Manuka Oval being used for the representative game this weekend (18-19 May)? What support is available to help the Tuggeranong Hawks? Will any new GWS deal involve more financial support for local community support?

OUTCOME: The caller was advised that Manuka Oval was not requested for use by the AFL for the match that weekend.

In respect of the Tuggeranong Hawks, the caller acknowledged existing competitive balancing within the local competition (including a player points system), and queried whether the ACT Government has a role in assuring that all efforts are made to ensure that evenness of the competition is maintained. The caller was advised operational issues for local sporting competitions are managed by their respective governing bodies.

In the context of new GIANTS negotiations, the caller considers that more should be done by Government to oversee the quality of the development academy system and the opportunities for local players to be drafted. The caller was advised that this would be a matter for the sport’s governing body.


Directorate: City Renewal Authority

Issue: Are they Melbourne and Sydney buildings privately owned? What can be done to improve their appearance. They are iconic buildings that should be better preserved.

OUTCOME: The caller was contacted and discussed the complexities of these buildings’ ownership structure, as well as the progress of the City Renewal Authority’s work in this area. The caller was also provided with a link to the City Renewal Authority webpage regarding the Sydney and Melbourne buildings.


Directorate: EPSDD

Issue: The caller has recently switched from gas to electric heating and cooling, and has a large solar system installed. Available solar batteries aren’t big enough to maximise the use of his system. Could the ACT Government invest in a local company to make bigger (over 5kw, and up to 20-25kw) solar storage systems?

OUTCOME: The caller was contacted and informed of the rebates available for battery storage systems under the Next Generation Energy Storage (Next Gen) program and asked if the ACT Government would be investing in a company (or project) to develop larger batteries. Caller was advised that the ACT Government is exploring the viability of larger community scale batteries but that this requires further analysis. Further details of the Next Gen program were emailed to the caller.


Directorate: TCCS

Issue: What is the Government’s policy on roadside advertising, both in terms of temporary and larger signs?

OUTCOME: The caller was contacted to discuss the relevant policy and legislation regarding roadside advertising. The caller was also advised further detail can be found at https://www.tccs.act.gov.au/territory-services/city_rangers/movable_signs. Signs which do not comply with the policy can be reported to Access Canberra on 13 22 81 or at www.act.gov.au/fixmystreet for TCCS to investigate.


Directorate: TCCS

Issue: What are the long-term road plans for William Hovell Drive, Parkes Way & Coulter Drive? There are currently significant congestion issues. One option could be to extend the turn-off to Coulter Drive to move traffic off William Hovell drive.

OUTCOME: The caller was contacted to discuss the government’s plans regarding upgrades the road network in response to future development works. Specifically upgrading William Hovell Drive, Coulter Drive and Bindubi Street to cater for and manage future developments like Whitlam. The resident was informed how the modelling work takes into account future population projections and current traffic movements to guide any future upgrade works.


Directorate: TCCS

Issue: Since the changes to bus services in Wanniassa, the local shopping centre carpark is filled with cars overflowing from the park & ride. Shoppers are finding it difficult to get a park. What can be done?

OUTCOME: The caller was contacted and advised that TCCS will be consulting with the management of the Erindale shopping centre regarding the possibility of installing time restricted parking on the first three aisles (about 89 parking spaces) to limit stays to 2 hours during business hours.


Directorate: Health

Issue: What is the ACT Government’s view on the low rate of bulk billing in the ACT? Should it be higher and what can the Government to do to raise this rate?

OUTCOME: The action officer from the Health Policy team has been attempting to contact the constituent multiple times per day since 21/5 and has left a voicemail for the caller to return the call, action officer has had no contact back from the caller and has not answered any of the calls.


Directorate: TCCS

Issue: Thank you for removing the large rocks from the gutter at 3 Snowy Pl (from talkback of 5 April). They have been re-installed. Could they please be removed again?

OUTCOME: The caller was contacted and informed of the following course of action:


Directorate: TCCS

Issue: Could government evaluate the relative merits of light rail and a bus way to Woden?

OUTCOME: The caller was contacted to discuss the status of the Light Rail Stage 2 progress, and upcoming opportunities to provide feedback and make submissions to upcoming assessments.


Directorate: TCCS

Issue: Could there be a ban on corflutes during an election?

OUTCOME: The caller was contacted and advised legislation in relation to election signage. Electoral advertising signs may be displayed for a period of up to six weeks immediately preceeding the election date. These signs are only covered by the Code for 48 hours after the official election day and must be removed within 48 hours of the close of the polling booths. More detail can be found at https://www.tccs.act.gov.au/territory-services/city_rangers/movable_signs.


Directorate: TCCS

Issue: Could a footpath please be installed from the EPIC tram stop and Wells Station for passengers accessing Mitchell?

OUTCOME: The caller was contacted and advised it is a TCCS priority to quickly establish the path.


Directorate: TCCS

Issue: There’s a need for another carpark for the Wanniassa Park and Ride on the Kambah side of Athlon Drive behind the bus stop. The existing options all fill up and it’s a long walk for elderly off-peak travellers.

OUTCOME: The caller was contacted and provided with an overview of the methodology and outcomes from the 2018 Park and Ride investigation which has examined city-wide expansion possibilities for park and ride facilities with respect to light rail and the new Rapid bus network. Wanniassa did rank highly against many other sites for possible expansion and the location nominated would utilise open space to the west of the site. This option is being considered by TCCS for possible future works.