Issues related to Transportation
The North Canberra Community Council recently made a submission in response to the Majura Parkway Draft EIS. The NCCC submission included 7 key concerns and recommendations. [scribd id=18004173 key=key-1q9zxk0w6wg5ri8m6mlh] A full copy of the NCCC submission is also available for download in PDF format.
On the 14th of July, The Canberra Times ran an article reporting the ACT Government position on a very fast train (VFT) linking Canberra to other eastern seaboard cities. It appears that the Majura Parkway upgrade route has not been predicated on the real traffic and transportation needs but rather “pie in the sky” conceptual plans for a VFT route which are unlikely to see the light of day in the near or foreseeable future.
The Canberra Times has coverage of the public meeting concerning the Majura Parkway EIS that occurred on Wednesday 8th July 2009.
A public information session on the Majura Parkway Environmental Impact Study (EIS) will be held Wednesday, 8 July 2009 at the Dame Pattie Menzies House in Dickson from 7.00pm to 9.00pm. The ACT Government has extended the public consultation period on the draft EIS by two weeks until 13 July 2009. Anyone with questions about the EIS or this significant infrastructure project is invited to attend the information session. Representatives from Roads ACT will be available to answer any questions and to explain this major infrastructure project.
The June 30 2009 edition of the Chronicle ran a story written by Elliot Woods about the negative health effects that will be experienced should the proposed 24 hour freight hub go ahead at the Canberra Airport. Curfew for Canberra convener Jenny Savigny explains the experience that Europe has had with late night aircraft noise.
ABC News is reporting the parking fees in Government Car Parks in the City West area will increase substantially from 6 July 2009: [youtube]VAlZd0gmHMA&rel=0&showsearch=1[/youtube] Parking fees for three of Canberra’s carkparks will nearly double from Monday. An all-day ticket at a City West car park, between Marcus Clarke Street and Gordon Street, will rise from $5 to $9.
New bus fares are in force as of 1 July 2009. Bus fares will increase by an average 11 per cent and university students will no longer be eligible for a student fare, instead having to pay the concession fare rate.
NCCC Media Release 22 June 2009 The Chair of the North Canberra Community Council (NCCC), Jochen Zeil, has called for more information on the proposed Majura Parkway Realignment and a public information meeting on the new road. Mr Zeil stated, “The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) makes it clear that the real reason for the unnecessarily expensive and environmentally damaging major realignment of the Parkway is to enable a future Very High Speed Train (VHST) to connect to Canberra Airport. This would support the Airport’s plan to become Sydney’s second airport and a night freight hub. “The community, including NCCC, has …
In November 2008, the Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese rejected Canberra International Airport’s draft master plan on the grounds that it did not provide enough detail on the proposal to develop the airport into a freight hub and the airport’s community consultation had been insufficient. The Minister was quoted at the time as saying “The public have the right to know how this development could impact on their homes and the airport’s response to these concerns has been inadequate.” As a result of the rejection of the original master plan the Airport has had 180 days to resubmit their revised …
