RiotVotes: Your city, your questions

Crashes from rat running in tuggeranong could be solved by duplicating the main roads as planned and space left for.

A new bigger pair of Captain Cook fountains . I think they should shoot over the Commonwealth ave bridges, People from everywhere would love that.

wildturkeycanoe said :

TracyS said :

rommeldog56 said :

Russ said :

Mysteryman said :

Maya123 said :

How about a recuction in speed limits for residential suburban streets? 50 km/h is still too fast for such areas. Many other countries have 30 or 40 km/h limits in such areas.

Got data to back that up

Of course he doesn’t. How many pedestrians were hit by cars doing 50km/h in residential areas? I’m willing to bet hardly any. Most of Canberra is paved with incredibly wide streets that mean 50km/h is perfectly safe.

I am afraid that Sternberg Cres (or right next to) has had a number of these fatalities and a hell of a lot of crashes. Wanniassa experiences a lot of Peak Hour Rat Running by commuters so that drivers can avoid single lane main roads Sulwood, Erindale & Ashley Drives in particular.

Canberra Times had a report about accidents and Sternberg Crescent made the list twice (the road gets almost 10,000 cars a day – amazing for a suburban road) http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/canberras-worst-roads-for-crashes-revealed-20150210-13as5d.html

1. How many of those crashes invovled drivers travelling faster than 50km/h? I’d suggest many, if not most of them.
2. Where is the data on these fatalities? Canberra averages around 11-14 fatalities on the road every year. Fatalities in the ACT caused by vehicles travelling at 50km/h are so few and far between I doubt you could find any information on them at all.
3. Of the crashes you mention, how many involved pedestrians?

1 fatal crash involved a pedestrian next to a Sternberg Intersection and is not counted in the stats, but the stats in the linked article (you may not have read it) said Sternberg was the worst for deaths in the ACT. Speed I would presume would be a definite factor, but a lack of lights or roundabouts on Sternberg makes for some pretty hair raising intersections. Must be close to the leading peak hour Rat Running street in a Canberra Suburb.

I don’t believe that 10,000 cars a day figure. That is about the same for Canberra Avenue between Queanbeyan and Canberra.
Also, I can only recall two fatal car accidents in recent times on Sternberg Crescent in Wanniassa. One of these was a pedestrian.

TracyS said :

rommeldog56 said :

Russ said :

Mysteryman said :

Maya123 said :

How about a recuction in speed limits for residential suburban streets? 50 km/h is still too fast for such areas. Many other countries have 30 or 40 km/h limits in such areas.

Got data to back that up

Of course he doesn’t. How many pedestrians were hit by cars doing 50km/h in residential areas? I’m willing to bet hardly any. Most of Canberra is paved with incredibly wide streets that mean 50km/h is perfectly safe.

I am afraid that Sternberg Cres (or right next to) has had a number of these fatalities and a hell of a lot of crashes. Wanniassa experiences a lot of Peak Hour Rat Running by commuters so that drivers can avoid single lane main roads Sulwood, Erindale & Ashley Drives in particular.

Canberra Times had a report about accidents and Sternberg Crescent made the list twice (the road gets almost 10,000 cars a day – amazing for a suburban road) http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/canberras-worst-roads-for-crashes-revealed-20150210-13as5d.html

1. How many of those crashes invovled drivers travelling faster than 50km/h? I’d suggest many, if not most of them.
2. Where is the data on these fatalities? Canberra averages around 11-14 fatalities on the road every year. Fatalities in the ACT caused by vehicles travelling at 50km/h are so few and far between I doubt you could find any information on them at all.
3. Of the crashes you mention, how many involved pedestrians?

1 fatal crash involved a pedestrian next to a Sternberg Intersection and is not counted in the stats, but the stats in the linked article (you may not have read it) said Sternberg was the worst for deaths in the ACT. Speed I would presume would be a definite factor, but a lack of lights or roundabouts on Sternberg makes for some pretty hair raising intersections. Must be close to the leading peak hour Rat Running street in a Canberra Suburb.

Maya123 said :

Masquara said :

We have evidence in Canberra that enforcement of speed limits works. Hindmarsh Drive up and down Mt Mugga Mugga used to be Canberra’s version of Mt Panorama.

Sounds like fun.
Let’s add that right under “fireworks” to the list of fun things that need to be brought back.

Masquara said :

Speeding, tailgating, horns honking, lights flashing, fingers out the window if you drove at or below the 80km/h speed limit.

I am 99.9% certain that if you keep to the left and don’t obstruct traffic that is trying to travel faster than you, none of the above would occur.

Masquara said :

Then the point to point cameras were put in and the behaviour of drivers changed literally overnight. Driving in that area is now a pleasure and proves that the right type of enforcement *does* succeed in improving road safety.

No, what you have now is the same dropkicks who used to do 80 in the right hand lane now continue to clog up the right hand lane, but now they’re doing 70.
I rarely use that road, but as it happened I used it this morning – it was amusing to see the guys doing 100 slaloming left and right from lane to lane to get around the doofuses who haven’t figured out how to keep left.

Well terribly sorry to those wanting to speed, but the limit says 80 so if im the right hand lane and the traffic in the left is bumper to bumper, well I do 80 in the right hand lane and laugh my head off at anyone behind me who is annoyed by it. Terribly sorry to obey the law but if you want to speed that’s not my problem, im not getting out of your way just so you can do 100 unless you have flashing lights and a siren. LMAO

rommeldog56 said :

Russ said :

Mysteryman said :

Maya123 said :

How about a recuction in speed limits for residential suburban streets? 50 km/h is still too fast for such areas. Many other countries have 30 or 40 km/h limits in such areas.

Got data to back that up

Of course he doesn’t. How many pedestrians were hit by cars doing 50km/h in residential areas? I’m willing to bet hardly any. Most of Canberra is paved with incredibly wide streets that mean 50km/h is perfectly safe.

I am afraid that Sternberg Cres (or right next to) has had a number of these fatalities and a hell of a lot of crashes. Wanniassa experiences a lot of Peak Hour Rat Running by commuters so that drivers can avoid single lane main roads Sulwood, Erindale & Ashley Drives in particular.

Canberra Times had a report about accidents and Sternberg Crescent made the list twice (the road gets almost 10,000 cars a day – amazing for a suburban road) http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/canberras-worst-roads-for-crashes-revealed-20150210-13as5d.html

1. How many of those crashes invovled drivers travelling faster than 50km/h? I’d suggest many, if not most of them.
2. Where is the data on these fatalities? Canberra averages around 11-14 fatalities on the road every year. Fatalities in the ACT caused by vehicles travelling at 50km/h are so few and far between I doubt you could find any information on them at all.
3. Of the crashes you mention, how many involved pedestrians?

crackerpants said :

Masquara said :

Driving in that area is now a pleasure and proves that the right type of enforcement *does* succeed in improving road safety.

Maybe somebody can confirm – I am pretty certain I saw stats a couple of years ago showing that accidents had *increased* following the introduction of the doofus-cameras…

In at least one location in the city, they did.

Masquara said :

Driving in that area is now a pleasure and proves that the right type of enforcement *does* succeed in improving road safety.

Maybe somebody can confirm – I am pretty certain I saw stats a couple of years ago showing that accidents had *increased* following the introduction of the doofus-cameras…

Masquara said :

We have evidence in Canberra that enforcement of speed limits works. Hindmarsh Drive up and down Mt Mugga Mugga used to be Canberra’s version of Mt Panorama.

Sounds like fun.
Let’s add that right under “fireworks” to the list of fun things that need to be brought back.

Masquara said :

Speeding, tailgating, horns honking, lights flashing, fingers out the window if you drove at or below the 80km/h speed limit.

I am 99.9% certain that if you keep to the left and don’t obstruct traffic that is trying to travel faster than you, none of the above would occur.

Masquara said :

Then the point to point cameras were put in and the behaviour of drivers changed literally overnight. Driving in that area is now a pleasure and proves that the right type of enforcement *does* succeed in improving road safety.

No, what you have now is the same dropkicks who used to do 80 in the right hand lane now continue to clog up the right hand lane, but now they’re doing 70.
I rarely use that road, but as it happened I used it this morning – it was amusing to see the guys doing 100 slaloming left and right from lane to lane to get around the doofuses who haven’t figured out how to keep left.

Russ said :

Mysteryman said :

Maya123 said :

How about a recuction in speed limits for residential suburban streets? 50 km/h is still too fast for such areas. Many other countries have 30 or 40 km/h limits in such areas.

Got data to back that up

Of course he doesn’t. How many pedestrians were hit by cars doing 50km/h in residential areas? I’m willing to bet hardly any. Most of Canberra is paved with incredibly wide streets that mean 50km/h is perfectly safe.

I am afraid that Sternberg Cres (or right next to) has had a number of these fatalities and a hell of a lot of crashes. Wanniassa experiences a lot of Peak Hour Rat Running by commuters so that drivers can avoid single lane main roads Sulwood, Erindale & Ashley Drives in particular. Canberra Times had a report about accidents and Sternberg Crescent made the list twice (the road gets almost 10,000 cars a day – amazing for a suburban road) http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/canberras-worst-roads-for-crashes-revealed-20150210-13as5d.html

Narzor said :

HenryBG said :

Maya123 said :

How about a recuction in speed limits for residential suburban streets? 50 km/h is still too fast for such areas. Many other countries have 30 or 40 km/h limits in such areas.

You can reduce the posted speed limits to whatever you want – people who are going to speed will do it regardless of what a sign says. And as far as it working for the majority, I drive a lot, and I can’t even remember the last time I stuck to 50 on a suburban street and wasn’t tailgated the whole way.

I leave this anecdotal evidence to all you armchair criminologists. A significant proportion of drivers appear to me to comply with posted speed limits.

We have evidence in Canberra that enforcement of speed limits works. Hindmarsh Drive up and down Mt Mugga Mugga used to be Canberra’s version of Mt Panorama. Speeding, tailgating, horns honking, lights flashing, fingers out the window if you drove at or below the 80km/h speed limit. Then the point to point cameras were put in and the behaviour of drivers changed literally overnight. Driving in that area is now a pleasure and proves that the right type of enforcement *does* succeed in improving road safety.

Mordd said :

HenryBG said :

Maya123 said :

How about a recuction in speed limits for residential suburban streets? 50 km/h is still too fast for such areas. Many other countries have 30 or 40 km/h limits in such areas.

You can reduce the posted speed limits to whatever you want – people who are going to speed will do it regardless of what a sign says. And as far as it working for the majority, I drive a lot, and I can’t even remember the last time I stuck to 50 on a suburban street and wasn’t tailgated the whole way.

So true. I find it interesting whenever they put in a bunch of spine-jarring speedhumps, the justification is that 15% of motorists were speeding along that road. No matter where it is, the quoted figures is invariably 15% – it makes you wonder if it isn’t the 15% that needs addressing rather than the street. Why penalise the remaining 85% just because 15% disregard the speed limit?

This is the case in a narrow, steep and bendy part of Bugden Avenue, Fadden where initially a 50 kmh speed limit was placed, but never enforced.
Then they put in 3 x speed humps which only slow down the buses.
The 50kmh speed limit remains ignored because to my knowledge, there has never been any attempt to enforce it.
Some of the new type speed humps have spaces in between which our petrol-headed motorcyclists love.

HenryBG said :

Maya123 said :

How about a recuction in speed limits for residential suburban streets? 50 km/h is still too fast for such areas. Many other countries have 30 or 40 km/h limits in such areas.

You can reduce the posted speed limits to whatever you want – people who are going to speed will do it regardless of what a sign says. And as far as it working for the majority, I drive a lot, and I can’t even remember the last time I stuck to 50 on a suburban street and wasn’t tailgated the whole way.

I leave this anecdotal evidence to all you armchair criminologists. A significant proportion of drivers appear to me to comply with posted speed limits.

Mysteryman said :

Maya123 said :

How about a recuction in speed limits for residential suburban streets? 50 km/h is still too fast for such areas. Many other countries have 30 or 40 km/h limits in such areas.

Got data to back that up

Many European countries have 30 kmh limits in residential areas:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_limits_by_country

HenryBG said :

Maya123 said :

How about a recuction in speed limits for residential suburban streets? 50 km/h is still too fast for such areas. Many other countries have 30 or 40 km/h limits in such areas.

You can reduce the posted speed limits to whatever you want – people who are going to speed will do it regardless of what a sign says. And as far as it working for the majority, I drive a lot, and I can’t even remember the last time I stuck to 50 on a suburban street and wasn’t tailgated the whole way.

So true. I find it interesting whenever they put in a bunch of spine-jarring speedhumps, the justification is that 15% of motorists were speeding along that road. No matter where it is, the quoted figures is invariably 15% – it makes you wonder if it isn’t the 15% that needs addressing rather than the street. Why penalise the remaining 85% just because 15% disregard the speed limit?

JC said :

You can reduce the posted speed limits to whatever you want – people who are going to speed will do it regardless of what a sign says.

OTOH increasing the speed limit to 160 would stop me from speeding EVER

Good one.
The thing is, car technology has delivered massive safety improvements over the last 30 years – so why are speed limits still the same now as then?
Why does the same speed limit apply to the geriatric driving a 30-year-old car at night during a rain storm as to a person driving on the very same stretch of road who has done several driving courses driving a modern car in broad daylight on a dry day?
Speed limits are obviously completely arbitrary, which is why they are held in contempt by so many.

Mysteryman said :

Maya123 said :

How about a recuction in speed limits for residential suburban streets? 50 km/h is still too fast for such areas. Many other countries have 30 or 40 km/h limits in such areas.

Got data to back that up

Of course he doesn’t. How many pedestrians were hit by cars doing 50km/h in residential areas? I’m willing to bet hardly any. Most of Canberra is paved with incredibly wide streets that mean 50km/h is perfectly safe.

HenryBG said :

Maya123 said :

How about a recuction in speed limits for residential suburban streets? 50 km/h is still too fast for such areas. Many other countries have 30 or 40 km/h limits in such areas.

You can reduce the posted speed limits to whatever you want – people who are going to speed will do it regardless of what a sign says. And as far as it working for the majority, I drive a lot, and I can’t even remember the last time I stuck to 50 on a suburban street and wasn’t tailgated the whole way.

A proven way to cut speeding is to equip a couple of uni students with invisible rope:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63La721iR_A&feature=iv&src_vid=rrs7Z8FRQeQ&annotation_id=annotation_64046

You can reduce the posted speed limits to whatever you want – people who are going to speed will do it regardless of what a sign says.

OTOH increasing the speed limit to 160 would stop me from speeding EVER

My question to the candidates would be about ‘Thompson’ and whether they support the idea of residential development in this location and what benefits there would be compared to the negative impacts.

Maya123 said :

How about a recuction in speed limits for residential suburban streets? 50 km/h is still too fast for such areas. Many other countries have 30 or 40 km/h limits in such areas.

You can reduce the posted speed limits to whatever you want – people who are going to speed will do it regardless of what a sign says. And as far as it working for the majority, I drive a lot, and I can’t even remember the last time I stuck to 50 on a suburban street and wasn’t tailgated the whole way.

Maya123 said :

How about a recuction in speed limits for residential suburban streets? 50 km/h is still too fast for such areas. Many other countries have 30 or 40 km/h limits in such areas.

Got data to back that up

How about a recuction in speed limits for residential suburban streets? 50 km/h is still too fast for such areas. Many other countries have 30 or 40 km/h limits in such areas.

A possible question to ask independents and non ACT Labor/Greens/Liberal parties & candidates :

” Will u guarantee that if u hold a balance of power in the ACT Legislative Assembly, that u will sit on the cross benches as a true independent and vote on a case by case basis and will not be seduced by the dark side by accepting a Ministership or a role in any minority ACT Government ? “

I would like to ask the candidates their views on the proposed new suburb for Tuggeranong. Where they stand on that issue is likely to strongly influence my vote in the election. Whether they think it is a good idea to build in such a location, which has so many environmental concerns and will have so many negative impacts on the Murrumbidgee River? If they are prepared to listen to the concerns raised by so many people during the first phase of community consultation? If they agree with the aims of the 2012 Tuggeranong Town Centre Master Plan for investment and increased residential development within the existing town centre footprint?

Will the Liberals give us an assurance that pensioner concessions will not be touched, and that pensioners will continue to get free rego and entry to pools and leisure centres? In the 2014 Budget Joe Hockey tried to strip those concessions and NSW Liberal premier Mike Baird said he was open to the idea and that nothing was off the table. The measure was eventually blocked in the Senate. We don’t have an upper house in the ACT.

Also, will the Liberals continue to support the cycling community like Labor and The Greens have? The Institute of Public Affairs – often called the conscience of the Liberal party – has been posting articles to its website and Facebook calling cyclists over-indulged inner city hipsters who are left wing and vote Green. Is this the prevailing mentality in the ACT Liberals and are our sporting and recreational facilities and pursuits safe from an anticipated hard-nosed approach to cost cutting and bringing down the deficit?

Question for all candidates:

Given the history of very few members actually living in Tuggeranong would any members of any electorates ever consider moving to Tuggeranong?
What are the reasons?

If you wouldn’t chose to live here please explain why not, what would need fixing?
What do you like about Tuggeranong?

rommeldog56 said :

Thanks for all your comments so far. I have lined up the first interviews with candidates for Thursday and Friday this week, so there is still time to add your thoughts between now and then.
I’ll be working through the known candidates in reverse alphabetical order by surname, adding those not yet announced in the same order as we learn who they are.

I would be most interested in the views of independents or non aligned (to Labor, Liberal or Greens) parties. I have no interest in hearing more of the same robotic clap trap and spin from ACT Labor, Liberal or Greens candidates or sitting members.

Thanks for all your comments so far. I have lined up the first interviews with candidates for Thursday and Friday this week, so there is still time to add your thoughts between now and then.
I’ll be working through the known candidates in reverse alphabetical order by surname, adding those not yet announced in the same order as we learn who they are.

This question applies to all electorates – I would like to ask all currently sitting members who are seeking re-election what they personally have accomplished during their term in the Assembly.

I recently received a survey from one of my MLAs saying that they share our frustration with the way our area is neglected, and asking about local issues of concern, what we’d like to see improved etc. I’m wondering why they didn’t ask 2.5 years ago when they had the opportunity to do something about it …

I should have added to my earlier complaint about Education in Tuggeranong according to NAPLAN league tables (hey I know there not perfect) Tuggeranong has 7 of the worst 8 Primary Schools in Canberra and 5 of the worst 7 High Schools in Canberra. Government hit Tuggeranong the hardest with the school closures of the 2000s and the ongoing results since has shown they have let the area’s kids and parents down very heavily.

Tuggeranong Town Centre needs a major facelift included the lake foreshore. We seem to be the forgotten area of Canberra. Tree & reserve maintenance is sadly lacking. As for the crazy tram being pushed through – the money would be far better spent on our hospitals & converting buses to alternative power. And finally, leave the Murrumbidgee River corridor alone! It would be an environmental disaster to build so close to the river.

Please put an electorate map at the end of your article each month as a help to those who aren’t sure which electorate they are in.

My Concerns for Tuggeranong in order are:

Working poor: Tuggeranong (particularly in the northern end) has had a large increase in Unemployment and Centrelink numbers over the last 8 years and families are struggling more than ever. Digital Finance Analytics named Kambah, Greenway & Wanniassa the most mortgaged stressed area in ‘all of Australia’. Amongst this climate, homeowners in the area have been hit proportionally harder by the rates hikes than other areas. Tuggeranong needs some Government and private sector support around creating jobs and business opportunities.

Education: ACT Labor closed 3 public primary schools, 3 pre schools and a High School in Kambah alone and replaced it with the one Superschool. According to NAPLAN results and anecdotally the Super School has proven to be a disaster for students. ACT Government needs to target more money and effort to Education in the area or risk failing a generation of kids. The $10m for a few new CIT classrooms in Tuggeranong, is nothing compared to Education spending in the rest of Canberra.

Public Infrastructure: As suggested by others there is an issue for single lane main roads in Tuggers, but I think it is the lack of public amenities and free entertainment zones for families, elderly and youth around the big shopping centres in Tuggeranong that needs addressing first. Try parking around the Erindale restaurants or sitting with your takeaway in the dusty surrounds and you will realise that it aint no Manuka lawns, Kingston Green or foreshore, etc.

Tuggeranong residents have been paying almost a quarter of the regions Federal and ACT tax revenue, for well over a decade and not getting close to an even return to their payments. Time for Tuggeranong to stop subsidising the rest of Canberra. And for those who claim Tuggeranong was over compensated by the rest of Canberra during the period it was built – that just aint true!

HenryBG said :

Another day, another report on how bad our hospitals are, and green and labor alliance answer is? Build a white elephant called Light Rail.

There is no case for LR with critical infrastructure like it is in Canberra

Canberra hospitals most inefficient and expensive in Australia, NHPA report
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/canberra-hospitals-most-inefficient-and-expensive-in-australia-nhpa-report-20160427-gog7m8.html

+1. Additionally, there was a report on the news (2cc) this morning that the rate of homelessness in Canberra is the 2nd highest in Australia – 2nd only to the Northern Territory (with its acknowledged issues with aboriginal homelessness).

Now, while we commute on the tram, isn’t that something to be proud of !!!

Barr owes Shane for his seat of power, the deal for LR was done for their votes.
Liberals received more votes than Labor, so Barr’s proclamation that he received a mandate for it is disingenuous at best, and deceiving at worst

This green social engineering will put Canberra back decades.

John Moulis said :

Yes Observing, I too have noticed increased passenger airline noise over the summer, whereas I should hear nothing at all if the planes stuck to the flight path.

Well, you will be able to enjoy more noise when/if the airport ever achieves its goal of being a 24 hour per day, 7 day per week freight hub.

“when/if” are the operative words.

HenryBG said :

Another day, another report on how bad our hospitals are, and green and labor alliance answer is? Build a white elephant called Light Rail.

There is no case for LR with critical infrastructure like it is in Canberra

Canberra hospitals most inefficient and expensive in Australia, NHPA report
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/canberra-hospitals-most-inefficient-and-expensive-in-australia-nhpa-report-20160427-gog7m8.html

+1. Additionally, there was a report on the news (2cc) this morning that the rate of homelessness in Canberra is the 2nd highest in Australia – 2nd only to the Northern Territory (with its acknowledged issues with aboriginal homelessness). Now, while we commute on the tram, isn’t that something to be proud of !!!

John Moulis said :

Yes Observing, I too have noticed increased passenger airline noise over the summer, whereas I should hear nothing at all if the planes stuck to the flight path.

Well, you will be able to enjoy more noise when/if the airport ever achieves its goal of being a 24 hour per day, 7 day per week freight hub.

Another day, another report on how bad our hospitals are, and green and labor alliance answer is? Build a white elephant called Light Rail.

There is no case for LR with critical infrastructure like it is in Canberra

Canberra hospitals most inefficient and expensive in Australia, NHPA report
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/canberra-hospitals-most-inefficient-and-expensive-in-australia-nhpa-report-20160427-gog7m8.html

My 1 personal annoyance is all the buses stopping about 7pm on a sunday, can we please get buses till 11pm/midnight seven days a week, we like to go out on sundays as well!

Yes Observing, I too have noticed increased passenger airline noise over the summer, whereas I should hear nothing at all if the planes stuck to the flight path.

Everything Miz said – Tip smell (horrible all year round), infrastructure (lack thereof), Ashley Drive – especially the intersections to Bugden Ave and Statton St (these are a nightmare day and night), representation and I would add maintenance of local parks and public spaces. The parks all throughout Tuggeranong are run down, old and poorly maintained. Plenty of kids live in Tuggeranong and good quality public spaces enhance community and the experience of living in the area.

HenryBG said :

That area of empty low-level office buildings between the Hyperdome and the Lake is a total disgrace. Anyone going to do anything about it?

Yes….yes…..yes…..that ACT Govt think tank that brought the tram to Canberra will, they say, eventually track it to Tuggeranong too. And presto, all will be transformed. I dunno what all you Tuggeranong’ites are whinging about really. Its all under control……..LOL……..

JC said :

All that Miz said, especially the tip smell around that part of Brindabella and the the lack of infrastructure projects.

Putting in a few pegs on the side of Ashley Drive does not mean that you are on the way to completing the Ashley Drive extension. Years to put in a few pegs at the side of Ashley and then leaving them for months is not good enough. Putting in minor projects in Tuggeranong and then saying that something was done for the southsiders so nothing more needs to be done is also not good enough. The Erindale shopping area desperately needs to be redone before it becomes a necessity to drive car-crushing monster trucks to get through to the shops.

I would add to that the increased aircraft noise over Tuggeranong too. Not just helicopter noise due to the burn offs, which is temporary I hope, but the aircraft noise from planes taking off from Canberra airport.

The burn-off today was tolerable and necessary but the smoke tonight is unbearable. It’s like the old days when every second house in the Tuggeranong Valley had a wood heater.
I would not like to be an asthmatic in Tuggers tonight.

“The latter five now form part of the Murrumbidgee electorate, which takes in Woden Valley, Western Creek and Molonglo Valley.”

Where’s Western Creek????

That area of empty low-level office buildings between the Hyperdome and the Lake is a total disgrace. Anyone going to do anything about it?

I would also add that a few of the single lane arterial roads need to be duplicated around Tuggeranong. Too often I had a shock to find traffic jams in my suburb because there is no way around car accidents on single lane main roads. The only possible detour is through the middle of a suburb. If the above does happen, please do not see it as a sign that more speed humps need to be built on suburban roads. Commuters drive on these roads because they sometimes have no choice.

All that Miz said, especially the tip smell around that part of Brindabella and the the lack of infrastructure projects.

Putting in a few pegs on the side of Ashley Drive does not mean that you are on the way to completing the Ashley Drive extension. Years to put in a few pegs at the side of Ashley and then leaving them for months is not good enough. Putting in minor projects in Tuggeranong and then saying that something was done for the southsiders so nothing more needs to be done is also not good enough. The Erindale shopping area desperately needs to be redone before it becomes a necessity to drive car-crushing monster trucks to get through to the shops.

I would add to that the increased aircraft noise over Tuggeranong too. Not just helicopter noise due to the burn offs, which is temporary I hope, but the aircraft noise from planes taking off from Canberra airport.

First, Maintenance.
I would like to see Brindabella as a whole maintained far better, e.g. like a ‘tidy town’ – rubbish cleaned up promptly, graffiti kits available for those awful fence tags along the main roads, grass mowed more regularly, parks planted with shade trees, weeds dealt with.
Brindabella is an embarrassment compared to how lovely Queanbeyan looks these days.
Classic example: There is a bus stop near me that has gravel constantly being washed away, creating a gully which is a serious trip hazard. Instead of fixing the problem by putting in pavers, they just refill the gravel again, which washes away again the next time it rains, ad infinitum.

Tip smell

I did not smell the tip for the first 10 years I lived here (in Chisholm). Now I can smell it from time to time, so imagine if I were closer. Fix it.

Infrastructure

We need CANBERRA WIDE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS so it does not feel like all it is missing is tumbleweeds. There are I think around 85,000 people in Tuggeranong who have been disregarded for years.

Sorry but a claytons TAFE does not cut it.

Ashley Drive and other thoroughfares

FFS finish Ashley Drive to the roundabout! And have a plan to duplicate other key roads.

Representation

Finally, have good people in Ministry who live in (and therefore actually care about) Brindabella and Tuggeranong Town Centre. Since John Hargreaves left we have not had decent representation which, to my mind, is why it’s been so neglected.