Posted on 20/03/2019
Calls received on air
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Street lights out in a number of streets in Isabella Plains, including Cromwell Cct and Noorooma St.
Action required: Directorate to contact caller.
OUTCOME: A TCCS Officer contacted the caller and explained that there was a streetlight controller fault and an issue with the main circuit breaker. The circuit breaker was repaired, and streetlights were confirmed operational on 22 February 2019.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Street lights out in a number of streets in Gilmore.
Action required: Directorate to contact caller.
OUTCOME: Once contacted by a TCCS officer, the caller clarified the streetlights of concern were in Willoughby Crescent, Gilmore. The lights were repaired, tested and confirmed as operational on 28 February 2019.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Provision of city services in North Weston subdivision.
Action required: Directorate to contact caller.
OUTCOME: A TCCS officer has contacted the caller and explained that the area is still under the control of the developer including the maintenance and therefore is not yet included in the standard maintenance programs. TCCS have mowed the area last week to assist the developers in maintaining public amenity. Negotiations are currently underway with the developer to resolve any issues prior to the area being handed over to Government.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Why do MyWay cards become inactive if unused for two years? It is difficult and time-consuming to get funds returned from inactive cards.
Action required: Directorate to contact caller
OUTCOME: A TCCS officer contacted the constituent to discuss the functionality of MyWay cards. MyWay cards are smartcards and the coding is in the actual physical card chip. The card is coded to remain valid for two years from the date of the last transaction (a transaction could be either travel or recharge). Once a card has expired, it cannot be reactivated and a new card will need to be purchased. This ensures the system is not cluttered with inactive, unused cards. TCCS are currently looking at a new system likely to be an account-based system rather than a card based system.
Directorate: CSD
Issue: A neighbouring ACT Housing tenant is being continuously disruptive.
Action required: Directorate to contact caller.
OUTCOME: Housing ACT has contacted the caller and advised Housing ACT is committed to working with its tenants and their neighbours and will provide additional assistance where needed by referring people to support services to find a suitable resolution and build a safer community for all involved.
Calls that didn’t make it to air
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Street lights out at Melrose Drive and Collings St.
Action Required: Directorate to contact caller.
OUTCOME: TCCS Officers were unable to contact the caller to advise the site has a number of complex faults. Two have since been resolved, and the third is scheduled for repair in mid-March.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: When will the light rail be ready?
Action Required: Directorate to contact caller.
OUTCOME: A TCCS Officer contacted the caller and advised that commencement date is not yet set. Intensive testing is ongoing and independent regulator sign-off are still required. As soon as known, the ACT Government will announce the launch and opening day events.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Access to the light rail platform – the ramp is quite steep?
Action Required: Directorate to contact caller.
OUTCOME: A TCCS Officer contacted the caller and advised that all ramps and walkways have been designed and constructed in accordance with the Australian Standards for Accessibility. The caller was also advised that Customer Service Officers would also be at stops to assist once the Light Rail system is in operation.
Directorate: Economic Development
Issue: Progress on the proposed ice rink for the ACT
Action Required:Contact caller
OUTCOME: The caller indicated his support for the proposed ice rink project and hoped that it would be located in a central location. The caller was advised that a location for any future facility has not been determined yet and will not be considered until the EOI process has concluded and any submissions assessed. The caller was informed that it is expected that the ACT Government will open the EOI process towards the middle of the year.
SMS/TEXT
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Dangerous tree in Macquarie St, Barton (near the Brassey).
Action required: Contact caller.
OUTCOME: A TCCS officer contacted the caller. TCCS advised they have inspected the dead Eucalypt near the corner of Brisbane Avenue to ensure that it is still in a stable condition and does not present a risk. The tree has been placed on the contractor removals program and will be removed in the coming months.
Directorate: ACT Health Directorate
Issue: Around 80% of those in prison have issues with mental health and/or alcohol and other drugs. Why not expand health services reduce demand on the prison?
Action required: Contact caller.
OUTCOME: An ACT Health Directorate officer contacted the Caller and advised her how the Office for Mental Health & Wellbeing was developing strategy that sought to develop a system that offers help earlier. The caller advised she represented the organisation “Families and Friends for Drug Reform” and suggested that ACT Government policy work should consider the materials on the organisation’s. website.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Who will be responsible for maintaining the landscaping around the light rail? It is already looking shabby with weeds
Action required: Contact caller.
OUTCOME: A TCCS officer contacted the caller and explained that weeding would take place once all the planting along the tracks was completed. Weeding is also reliant on testing activities as access to the landscape for planting/maintenance is not possible during testing due to safe working distances from an active rail system and that any weeding/landscaping activities have to work around non-testing periods.
Directorate: TCCS
Issue: Pedestrian traffic management in Gungahlin when light rail starts. People taking a potentially dangerous shortcut between Aldi and Coles. Could the barriers remain permanently?
Action required: Contact caller
OUTCOME: The caller was advised that Light Rail in this shared zone will be travelling at a low speed and the barriers are not expected to be necessary once construction activities have ceased. Landscaping in time, once fully grown will discourage pedestrians crossing at unsafe locations. TCCS encourages pedestrians to use the marked crossings and customer service officers will be at all stops to assist the community when passenger services commence.
Directorate: Treasury
Issue: Does Canberra’s leasehold system cost more to administer than a freehold one? Back when Canberra was being formed the leasehold system was selected to stop speculation and keep prices down. This isn’t working.
Action required: Contact caller
OUTCOME: The caller was advised the costs of operating a leasehold system were not too different from the costs of operating a land system elsewhere.