A view of the proposed Kings Avenue stop near Parliament House. Thousands more public servants will be moving into the area. Images: ACT Government.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr appears to be warming to the idea of opening a leg of Stage 2B light rail to Parliament House before the route to Woden is completed.
Mr Barr said that if Labor is returned to government after Saturday, it would look at the possibility of a progressive opening of the route.
Originally floated in a Public Transport Association of Canberra (PTCBR) submission to the Stage 2B consultation, the idea would be to establish a terminus at Sydney Avenue near Parliament House and the Barton public service precinct and start running a service.
PTCBR was not advocating the project procurement be split but argued that a staged approach would address anxiety about the project taking too long to be built and benefit the growing numbers of public servants in the area.
Mr Barr said the growth of public service agencies in Barton and the need to move staff in and out of the precinct made light rail quite a compelling case for a federal government of either stripe.
He had listened to the PTCBR proposal and Labor would look at it.
“The question is in terms of procurement and construction. If there is a way to be able to open stages progressively as you move south, I’m open to it,” he said.
However, he would need advice on the engineering and network issues involved.
“It would, I imagine, principally be about the electricity supply to certain points along the route,” Mr Barr said.
Mr Barr’s openness to the idea drew a sharp response from the Canberra Liberals, who oppose extending light rail beyond Commonwealth Park, with leader Elizabeth Lee calling the government’s handling of Stage 2B a “shemozzle”, given there was no cost or decision to route through the Parliamentary Triangle.
The long time frame – construction is slated from 2028 to 2033 – is also playing on people’s minds.
What the light rail bridge will look like. Strengthening work on the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge will take two years.
Mr Barr said the government might be able to shave some time off the project length, but a lot was out of its hands, including the approvals process and the strengthening work being done on Commonwealth Avenue Bridge, which will take another two years.
“The sequencing works quite well in that regard, that bridge project and then the finalisation of route alignment and stops through the National Triangle, and getting a clearance on the heritage and environment elements,” Mr Barr said.
“That’s three years of work from 2024 and 2027.”
Then, there will need to be a parliamentary inquiry and a vote from both houses to approve Stage 2B.
By then, Stage 2A to Commonwealth Park will have started operating in 2028.
Mr Barr said this was the fourth light rail election and he predicted more debates in 2028 and 2032.
“Whilst the Liberal Party remains opposed, we will have this debate every election,” he said.
Was he worried that people were becoming more impatient with the slow pace of the project?
“There is amongst some an understanding of the time frames and processes associated with delivering major infrastructure projects, that you can’t just click your fingers and have things magically appear … particularly when it involves engagement with another government over the planning approvals.”
He also said projects needed to be sequenced, not just because of cost, but so there would be the workforce available to build them.
Loading ...
