The ACT Government has built part of a pilot storm-water recycling plant over land designated in the National Capital Plan as an extension of Ginninderra Drive. Federal law requires the ACT not to do anything inconsistent with the National Capital Plan which is administered under Federal law. Moore Independent candidate for Molonglo said the ACT Government was using stealth closing off the Ginninderra extension which would help ease traffic in North Canberra suburbs The Minister for Planning, Bill Wood, said yesterday that the joint parliamentary committee on the ACT had recommended against the extension in 1991 and the Federal Government had accepted that, even though the plan had not formally been changed. Mr Dunstone accused the Government of using stealth instead of public processes. Also the housing development at Yowani would make it more difficult to extend Ginninderra Drive from where it presently ends at Mouat Street through to Northbourne Avenue. He thought this a better option than permitting Belconnen traffic to go along Mouat Street and other residential streets. Traffic claming measures were band-aids, often creating problems and noise for residents as heavy traffic tried to negotiate S-bends, roundabouts and humps. Mr Wood said that the 1991 recommendation was made as part of the Gungahlin External Transport Study which had received 60 submissions and had engaged in public hearings. The committee recommended that traffic calming begin immediately and the Federal Government supported that but noted it was an ACT responsibility. Four years later no traffic calming has been constructed in affected streets in adjacent Lyneham and O’Connor. Residents groups have complained to the ACT Government about it.
The Federal Government said also in its response that it would seek an amendment to the National Capital Plan, which requires a public consultation process. Four years later, no steps have been taken.