Government news

Partial failure of the phone alert system

Written by Alan Kerlin Tuesday, 11 October 2011 10:09

Didn't receive an alert call during the Mitchell factory fire warnings? Perhaps it was because 80% of relevant numbers weren't even dialled!!

This CT article gives a good summary, with some salient admissions from Simon Corbell about the system's flaws.

The full report isn't much longer: http://esa.act.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/Report-on-the-use-of-EMERGENCY-ALERT-for-Mitchell-fire-September-20111.pdf

So there are some changes they can make now, and they'll be warning all the other states of the problems. But it seems our telcos have got to have a serious look at their networks and how to get a better system working - for when we really need it...

Electoral Boundary Loss

Written by Alan Kerlin Tuesday, 11 October 2011 09:49

The ACT Electoral Commission has made its final decision on the electoral boundaries, and they have reverted to their original proposal. That is, they are moving Crace and Palmerston from the electorate of Molonglo into Ginninderra, joining Nicholls in being separated from the rest of Gungahlin voters.

Electoral Boundary Redistributions - have your say!

Written by Alan Kerlin Monday, 16 May 2011 15:41

Electoral boundary redistributions are not something that normally fire up the emotions, but we are asking Gungahlin residents to get involved in this one to help stop further splitting of Gungahlin suburbs into a second ACT electorate.

Electoral Boundaries Submission

Written by Dave Bockett Monday, 16 May 2011 15:03

Following are our suggestions regarding the redistribution of electoral boundaries for the ACT.

However, we should say at the outset that we feel most of this process will be in vain, and the committee will default to the "least change" approach it did last time around. The problem with that approach of course is that it does not fix the problem in a lasting manner, as evident from the fact that we need more changes just three years later. The incremental approach does not account for the rapid population growth in the north.

And the core problem will remain: the seven-member Molonglo electorate will remain geographically sprawling from almost Tuggeranong, through Weston, Woden, central Canberra and circling around Belconnen through most (but not all) of Gungahlin. There will remain some MLAs representing parts of Gungahlin who know little of the Gungahlin community's issues, and if we are frank seldom set foot in Gungahlin.

Our preferred approach is for the ACT to have additional MLAs. As we explained during the last redistribution, it is evident to us that the workloads involved with a 17-member Assembly are unacceptable, leading to inadequate decisionmaking that may not have occurred if there was better oversight and issue knowledge by ministers with less demanding portfolios. We note that not one Government MLA has attended a single GCC meeting since the last election, and rare conversations our representatives have had with them at functions etc make it clear that some are falling out of touch with the community they represent. It has also been argued that some of the problem stems from lack of depth within the Government "back bench". Similar arguments can be put forward regarding the quality of opposition resulting from the small Assembly depth.

We have attempted to stimulate public debate on the issue of Assembly size, but have been disappointed by the lack of support or even interest from many incumbent MLAs. We would have thought that if there was one issue for which they could put aside grandstanding in favour of a united approach to the Federal Government supporting a better solution for the people of the ACT, then this would be it. It seems not.

As can be seen from the attached output from our electorate modelling software, five electorates of five MLAs each with quotas of approximately 10,000 electors can be easily achieved. These electorates can align closely to established communities of interest: Belconnen, North Canberra/Gungahlin, Central Canberra, Weston/Woden, and Tuggeranong. Each possible electorate is geographically constrained, which would give elected members far better opportunity to closely engage with the community they represent.

However, as previously stated, it seems the parliament hasn't the mood to pursue such an improvement, so we will be stuck with a 7-5-5 Assembly, with a quota of about 15,000 electors - an increase of 1000 per MLA from the current term. Given that unfortunate situation, we have sought a solution that aligns communities of interest as closely as possible, while preserving a small negative variance where the growth will be greatest over the next eight years - Gungahlin, hopefully minimising the need for another redistribution next term.

The attached output shows a five-member electorate covering Tuggeranong and Weston (nominally Brindabella), and a second five-member electorate with all of Woden and the Inner South, plus the Inner North (Molonglo).

The seven-member Ginninderra electorate would entirely encompass Belconnen and Gungahlin - areas with many common issues, characteristics and challenges. Watson from north Canberra would make up the numbers, recognising that this suburb is heavily used by Gungahlin people, who frequent its schools, childcare centres and shops. The electorate would be five per cent under variance initially, well under the 10 per cent requirement. This would absorb significant Gungahlin population growth without the need for redistribution. Further out, and assuming still no solution for increasing the Assembly size, Gungahlin will grow to the extent that Watson could be moved from Ginninderra to Molonglo.

Similarly, this solution has Molonglo with a 1.6 per cent negative variance, sufficient to absorb population growth in the new suburbs of Molonglo. Brindabella electorate would start the term with a 7.6 per cent over variance, also under the 10 per cent requirement, and sufficient to buffer the population expansion in the other electorates, most likely for more than one term.

A similar alternative would have Brindabella as a five-member electorate covering Tuggeranong and up to Hindmarsh Drive, and Molonglo from Woden and Weston, through the Inner South and Inner North, but with the two suburbs of Lyneham and Watson incorporated into Ginninderra. The variances for this option are smaller though, and would therefore be less resilient against likely population growth.

We would be pleased to further explain our proposals.

Regards,

Alan Kerlin
Gungahlin Community Council
Spokesman - Planning, Transport and Environment
m 0408 771633

GCC Submission: Expanding Hospital Services in the ACT

Written by Dave Bockett Wednesday, 20 April 2011 09:04

Gungahlin Community Council Discussion Paper Submission:
Expanding Hospital Services in the ACT

The Gungahlin Community Council Inc (GCC) is an incorporated, not for profit, community-based association operating within the Gungahlin district of the Australian Capital Territory. This district covers an area in the northwest of the ACT between the ACT–NSW border, and the Barton Highway, and Federal Highway to the south and east.

GCC’s objective is to preserve and improve the social, cultural, economic and environmental well being of Gungahlin and the Gungahlin community. To achieve this objective, GCC undertakes to:

consult with members of the Gungahlin community
represent the Gungahlin community, and lobby authorities on the community’s behalf
provide a non-political environment where members of the community can express their aspirations, concerns and suggestions
provide a public forum where members of the community can obtain information, support and opportunities to network with others
advise, support and assist any organisation with compatible objectives to those that have been adopted by GCC
liaise with members of the public, legislators, officials and community representatives
provide appropriate information and opinions on matters relevant to the Gungahlin community.

The Gungahlin Community Council welcomes the opportunity to provide our thoughts on the discussion paper Expanding Hospital Services in the ACT. Our attempts to secure ACT Health staff through the consultation enquiry telephone number and email address, seeking staff to attend one of our meetings during the consultation period went unanswered. Therefore we secured instead the attendance of Health Minister Katy Gallagher at our meeting the night before submissions were due to close. Minister Gallagher confirmed that as a result of the problems we experienced, our submission would be received even though after the closing date.

Clear need for a third site

In April 2010, in the light of the problems being experienced by The Canberra Hospital (TCH) during reconstruction works and the failed purchase of Calvary, GCC first floated concerns that the two Canberra public hospitals would not be adequate to cope with the projected population growth in Canberra. With around 50,000 people planned for Molonglo, and still another 60,000 people to come in Gungahlin, plus further densification of the inner north, the idea that TCH and Calvary could cope with a greater than 30 per cent ACT population growth without major reconstruction is not credible. Far better, we argued, that the ACT Government build a third hospital on a greenfield site on the northside, where the Government could masterplan the site from day one. Once in place, then additional capacity would allow for progressive redevelopment of the other sites, without major disruption to services.

In September, GCC’s Alan Kerlin met with Minister Gallagher, at her request, to discuss GCC’s ideas for a third hospital. During this discussion, Ms Gallagher explained that ACT Health modelling had shown that if they tried to accommodate projected population growth on the existing sites, “they would both be construction sites for the foreseeable future, and that’s not an appealing prospect.” We agree entirely with this sentiment, and therefore concur with the underlying need for a third hospital as explained in the discussion paper. While it is reassuring to see the experts confirm it, the requirement is surely common sense? The finding that such an approach would be markedly more expensive that all other options is entirely expected.

Gungahlin has the ideal greenfield site

During our discussion with the Minister, we proposed that the Gungahlin Town Centre has an ideal location for a third hospital, and the Minister confirmed that an assessment by Land and Property Services had confirmed exactly this location as one of the preferred options for a greenfield hospital development. The other sites she discussed were at the corner of Kelleway Ave and Gungahlin Drive Nicholls and on the University of Canberra campus. We dismissed the Nicholls sites as being poorly served by public transport, lacking in local retail amenities, and of high impact on residents. We also expressed concern that the UC site would be putting student needs above those of the patients and their families, and being very close to Calvary would be losing an opportunity to establish a geographic spread of hospital services.

We also explained to the Minister that this site would most likely meet with strong community support, even from people in the community with housing close by. Indeed, through all the media coverage, online discussion through our website and Facebook group, and other meetings and online community efforts, the response we have received has been almost 100 per cent favourable for our proposal.

The land we proposed forms part of the 40 hectare area GCC has been successful in getting rezoned by ACTPLA to zones suiting business park development, as shown below. This location would provide the staff and users of such a hospital with immediate access to the Gungahlin town centre, which is now a fully serviced retail core. This would be very different from the geographic locations of TCH and Calvary – or UC for that matter – in that the distance from local shopping areas leaves users essentially locked into using a single on-site concessionaire.

The location is also on a high-frequency public transport route, with bus services at least every 15 minutes during week days and far more frequent during peaks. It is within a similar driving and public transport range from Civic as the Belconnen and Woden town centres. The soon-to-be-built community health clinic a block away would ensure the hospital can focus on cases of genuine need rather than having the emergency ward filled with the non-urgent presentations that seem to plague other hospitals.

The population growth still to come in Gungahlin will see most people going into areas to the north, west and east of the town centre, making the town centre a very central location, rather than at the northern extremity of Canberra, as has been portrayed by some. In time, it will be relatively central to well over 100,000 people from all of Gungahlin, the inner northern suburbs, and the northern Belconnen areas, all within a 12-minute driving radius. The population to come for Molonglo will likely split equally between TCH and Calvary, with that 50,000 people alone likely pushing both hospitals to their limits.

The site has the capacity to develop the planned hospital, as shown in this rendering by ACTPLA of potential development on the site and immediate surrounds.

The business park land also has ample space to accommodate a broad range of supporting services such as specialist clinics and high-quality residential developments to suit the likely workforce, as shown in the following ACTPLA rendering of potential development within the southern part of the site, shown in purple on the plan above. This site has immense development potential for high-quality apartments that will have uninterrupted views across the grassland reserve to the Brindabellas.

The Gungahlin site will also be counter-flow during morning peak periods, making it easily accessible to emergency services.

Attractive option for attracting new staff

Several stakeholder groups have raised concerns about the Government’s ability to attract adequate staff to any new hospital. This is an important reason why a third hospital at Gungahlin would work. With the lion’s share of new development around Gungahlin, the Government would be able to promote a total work/living/shopping environment to potential medical staff considering relocation – all within easy bicycle or bus distance.

Whole of government assessment needed – jump-starting Gungahlin town centre

There is an important aspect to this decision that warrants the ACT Government undertaking a whole-of-government assessment of candidate sites, rather than just the current Health/Treasury review. Currently, the ACT Government faces a long road to secure buyers for the Gungahlin business park land, because the potential developers know that they will struggle to secure tenants. We expect that in the current climate the town centre will take at least another 15 years to complete, with considerable holding costs resulting for the Government. However, if the ACT Government were to commit to building a third hospital within this district, it would provide the catalyst to kick-start the business park. Developers would be keen to secure land adjacent to the hospital, and it is reasonable to expect that the Government could clear the remaining land within more like five to 10 years, and for premium prices. Higher prices, sooner, and with the flow-on benefits of greater rates revenue as well. None of these benefits would accrue to the Government for a UC location. Rather, there would likely be considerable pressure on the Government to improve the public transport services to the UC campus to meet demand, given the somewhat isolated location.

Further to the land sale and rate revenue aspect is that of transport infrastructure. The rapid construction of the gungahlin business park would inject some 10,000 jobs into our town centre. Many existing residents would look to transfer to local employers in order to avoid the daily commute. Employees currently living in other parts of Canberra would consider relocation to Gungahlin in order to be closer to their work. In turn, properties in the other areas would be freed up for Gungahlin residents who currently commute out to consider relocating closer to their workplaces. The upshot of this logical geographic shift is that the ACT Government would find itself not needing to supply substantial transport infrastructure projects that, given recent experience, would be likely to cost ACT taxpayers and ratepayers several hundred million dollars. This means that a decision to build a hospital in Gungahlin could in fact be the foundation for major savings that would in turn benefit all people in Canberra. It would also be a key contributor towards meeting the ACT Government’s ambitious greenhouse reduction target.

Preferred options

Assuming the ACT Government accepts the ACT Health advice and goes with a third hospital solution as also recommended by the Assembly’s Committee, our preference of the described options is Option D, with a networked hospital system including an acute and emergency hospital – at Gungahlin – and Calvary converted to sub-acute services. Our sense is that this option best matches the developing demographics, where the younger families in Gungahlin are more likely to benefit from nearby acute services, and the aging demographics of the Belconnen and inner suburbs more likely to be access sub-acute services. It appears to us that there is substantial growth likely in sub-acute service provision, and therefore the Calvary management should be keen to take on this specialised role.

Option D gives the greatest value and return on investment. It is the least expensive because retrofitting unplanned expansion is always more expensive than a greenfield development. It adds the most value to the total Canberra community assets by using difficult to sell land in a Town Centre and reducing travel and access costs for staff and patients.

Our second preference would be option C, where all the hospitals provide the full range of core hospital services. Our preference for this option is because our community seeks easy and quick access to emergency services for our children in particular, and waiting times at Calvary are already unacceptably long. It is also a substantially less expensive option than A, B or E.

In summary, we urge the ACT Government to commit to building a third hospital in Canberra, and to undertake a whole-of-government assessment of all the potential flow-on benefits that would accrue to the Government from an appropriate choice of site.

We would welcome the opportunity to elaborate on our submission to the Minister and Health officials.

Regards,

Alan Kerlin, Spokesman – Planning, Transport and Environment

Gungahlin Community Council

GCC Submission to Select Committee on Estimates 2010-2011

Written by Dave Bockett Saturday, 29 May 2010 10:08

GCC President Alan Kerlin recently appeared before the ACT Legislative Assembly's Select Committee on Estimates. He was invited to give a summary of key positives and negatives from the ACT Budget.

Following is an extract of his testimony from the draft Hansard text:

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
SELECT COMMITTEE ON ESTIMATES 2010‑2011

(Reference: Appropriation Bill 2010-2011)

Members:
MS M HUNTER (The Chair)
MR Z SESELJA (The Deputy Chair)
MR J HARGREAVES
MS A BRESNAN
MR B SMYTH

PROOF TRANSCRIPT OF EVIDENCE (DRAFT)
CANBERRA
THURSDAY, 13 MAY 2010

KERLIN, MR ALAN, President, Gungahlin Community Council

THE CHAIR: Welcome to this public hearing of the Select Committee on Estimates. Thank you, Mr Kerlin, for coming this afternoon and representing the Gungahlin Community Council. We have approximately 30 minutes set aside for this afternoon’s discussion. Could you confirm for the record that you understand the privileges implications from the statement that is before you?

Mr Kerlin: Yes, I understand them.

THE CHAIR: Thank you. Would you like to start with a brief opening statement?

Mr Kerlin: Sure, thank you. Summarising the budget, I would have to say that there are a lot of positives for Gungahlin in there, although there are also some disappointing areas, not entirely unexpected in some respects.

ACT Budget - GCC summary

Written by Alan Kerlin Tuesday, 04 May 2010 18:40

ACT Budget

ACT Government commitment to rectifying Gungahlin’s infrastructure shortfall welcomed

The 2010–11 ACT Budget has been largely welcomed by GCC as a solid further step towards correcting years of lagging infrastructure,

Assembly size debate needed now

Written by Alan Kerlin Wednesday, 10 March 2010 11:08

The ACT is poorly served by the current Assembly of only 17 people.

The five ministers are overworked and their decisions and ability to pay due attention to visioning our future are therefore comprised.

Likewise the portfolios of the other parties are too large to cover in a way we democratically deserve.

The issue has not advanced because of dispute over whether there should be 21 or 25 MLAs. It is a debate we have to have - sooner rather than later.

Very soon our media will become subsumed with covering the Federal Election.

By the time that is over we'll be too close to the next ACT election for a meaningful and objective discussion.

We need to start the debate now.

Track the Money: ACT Government Stimulus Package Website

Written by Matthew Connors Wednesday, 25 March 2009 16:18

The ACT Government has announced the launch of the ACT Nation Building Stimulus Package website. This website will provide Canberrans the opportunity to review the projects, and progress of those projects, being implemented by the ACT Government as part of its obligation under the Federal Government's $42 billion stimulus package.

Canberrans can locate the website at www.stimulus.act.gov.au.

All Canberrans and particularly local businesses are encouraged to access the website to see what projects will be undertaken in the Canberra region and what opportunities may exist.

Business Investment in Gungahlin

Written by Matthew Connors Thursday, 12 February 2009 20:46

The Gungahlin Community Council welcomes today’s opening of the 360 degree Living store in Gungahlin. This investment by TransACT, Service One Members Banking and ActewAGL to open this new shopfront prior to Christmas is a welcome boost to local business, and is recognition by these companies of the continuing growth in the Gungahlin area.

Unlike the commercial sector, the ACT Government continues to fall behind the growing service needs of the Gungahlin area and remains non-committal on future ACT Government investment in certain key areas of service delivery for Gungahlin residents.

The recent decision by the ACT Government to relocate the Land Development Agency to Dickson is a major disappointment for Gungahlin. Gungahlin is the fastest growing area in Canberra, with significant residential and commercial development in progress or close to starting, making Gungahlin an ideal location for the LDA. The relocation of such an agency would have brought a welcome influx of trade to local businesses, particularly in the current economic climate.

Taking issues to the Ministers

Written by Alan Kerlin Friday, 08 August 2008 10:00

The Gungahlin Community Council executive met with all ACT Government Ministers (except Health Minister Gallagher who did not attend) on 5th August to discuss a wide range of issues, concerns and needs for the Gungahlin community.

In the run-up to the October elections, the GCC addressed each Minister (some of whom we have seen very little of over the last two years) with issues specific to their portfolios.

The GCC has also launched a new online survey to canvass further the concerns of the community.

It is important for Gungahlin residents and business people to complete this short survey for us. The results of our regular community surveys guide our campaigning efforts - particularly in the lead-up to an election. They ensure that when GCC addresses our concerns to MLAs and candidates (like today), that we are truly representing the wishes of the community.

The survey results will also feed into the format of the GCC Molonglo and Ginninderra Meet the Candidates Evening on 8 October. You can find it on our website.

The issues GCC took to the Ministers included:

$20M aquatic centre funded

Written by Alan Kerlin Monday, 04 August 2008 19:15

The Gungahlin aquatic and leisure centre will be funded to the tune of some $20 million, to follow a similar model to the CISAC centre in Belconnen, as announced by Chief Minister Jon Stanhope and Sports and Planning Minister Andrew Barr in Gungahlin today.

Just 18 months ago, then Planning Minister Simon Corbell told ABC 666 that Gungahlin would need a population of 100,000 to get a 50-metre pool. But we stuck to our guns - backed up by the support we were given through our Gungahlin Community Survey.

And here we are now, with the government committing to fund a full enclosed centre, with 50-metre pool, 25-metre learn to swim pool, and toddlers pool, plus other sporting facilities.

That's one major item 'ticked off our list' for the upcoming elections. But we have a number of other issues we'd like to resolve before election day.

You can add you weight to our campaigning by completing our latest community survey - see the box on the home page.

WIN News Story:

"Meet your Minister" - 4 August 2008

Tuesday, 29 July 2008 00:00

The ACT Chief Minister and his ministerial colleagues will be holding a Community Cabinet Meeting in Gungahlin (at the Gungahlin Community Resource Centre on Ernst Cavanagh Street) this coming Monday, 4th August 2008 between 15:30 and 16:30.

RSVPs can be sent to govtsupport@act.gov.au or by phone to Chris Wilson - Manager of the Chief Minister's Support and Protocol unit on 6205 0192. It has also been requested that individuals should also indicate the issues they would like to discuss when they RSVP.

Whilst the advertisement may have already appeared in the Canberra Times and Chronicle, the council was only sent an email from the Chief Minister's Support and Protocol unit advising of the event this morning (29 July). Given the recent Government announcements regarding improving community consultation, it appears the process is getting off to a rocky start given this tardy notification and short time in which to RSVP.

Community engagement meeting

Written by Alan Kerlin Friday, 04 July 2008 00:00

Representatives of several of the Community Councils met with reps for several ACT Government departments on 2 July to discuss better ways that the ACT Government could improve community engagement.

While ACTPLA has an effective model in the Planning and Development Forums (fora?), the level of engagement from other agencies has been variable.

Notes from the meeting follow.