News - Government

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:

Minister Hargreaves

• There is an emergency need for painting of all the town centre zebra crossings for visibility. The exposed aggregate has a nice look but zebras crossings are not the place for camouflage.
• Requesting support for semi-pedestrianisation of town centre’s Hibberson Street and Gungahlin Place, as proposed by GCC and supported via the Gungahlin Town Centre Planning Study.
• Requesting support for a comprehensive light rail cost-benefit analysis for a staged implementation. Analysis to include cost offsets such as additional land sale and rate revenue, deferred road construction.
• Roadworks: there is an urgent need to upgrade Gundaroo and William Slim Drives to dual lanes, and to bring forward the Nurdurr Drive extension to prevent new Crace residents from rat-running through Palmerston.
• Requesting support for a large Park n Ride in the vacant car parks at EPIC.
• Requesting support for a bus gas refuelling at Mitchell to get more of the newer buses servicing Gungahlin.
• Urgent need for footpaths in Harrison leading to Harrison School – the missing links are very dangerous.
• Requesting support for off-road bike paths across grasslands to the town centre and schools.
• Request funding commitment for construction of the new library.
• Requesting upgrade to the 'undercooked' Linear Park playground for additional age groups.

• As we have received no advice to date on the proposal other than the election announcement, what is the $18M community health clinic?
• There is heavy demand for additional community centres.

• Need to overhaul all existing new suburb concept plans for improved passive solar orientation and up-to-date planning principles.
• Seeking mandatory vacant block energy star ratings to implement a market-driven improvement to subdivision design.
• AFL access to Harrison fields (school has a partnership)
• Seeking commitment to include 50m, wader and learn-to-swim pools in aquatic centre, and a funding commitment for the aquatic centre and enclosed oval.

• Requesting that the Gungahlin Police Station go to 24/7 operations.

• Seeking support for the GCC's Gungahlin Carbon Neutral Solar Farm Community Cooperative proposal to be based near the Federal Highway.
• Seeking expansion of existing sustainable housing assistance schemes (tanks, solar HWS, greywater, etc) to include broader participation – means test level and other restrictions are set too low.