Country living in the City, is this a myth? Ask the Harrison residents.

On purchasing a block of land at Harrison, the residents were happy that at last they found a suburb with a difference, “Country living in the City” truly majestic and a dream come true, but the residents can no longer take comfort of living in a much sought after suburb as the ACT Government is determined to take away the peace and tranquility of the suburb by building 4 lane road “Well Station Drive” in a land locked area between small hill and Carpentaria Street.  The residents can no longer appreciate the beautiful landscape, the quiet surroundings and pure air. Residents can no longer enjoy the morning and evening walks around the suburb, nor can they let loose their pet in the only available area of suburb. Children can no longer fly their kite, learn to ride bike, and play in the evenings.  Instead they will be forced to confine in their house, watching television. This is the future that awaits the Harrison residents, courtesy our ACT Government and ACT Planning Minister.

The residents have brought to the attention of the authorities beginning with ACTPLA during August 2008 that the proposed Well Station drive extension connecting Horse Park drive is not in the best interest of the community. Since then, letters have been written to the ACT Chief Minister, ACT Planning Minister as well as a petition to the ACT Speaker with 40 signatures. Also, in response to the first ever community newsletter on Well Station drive extension about 50 residents, in spite of incorrect email address, have managed to express their concerns in writing to ACTPLA on the proposed Well Station drive extension.  Member for Molonglo Caroline Le Couteur and Member for Ginninderra and Shadow Minister for Transport, Alistair Coe have also visited the site and understood the concerns of the community. A motion was  moved in the assembly on 11th November by the Honourable Members of the Legislative Assembly calling on the ACT Government to re-align the Well Station drive extension further to the east away from the existing housing. Within few hours of passing the motion, the ACT Planning Minister Mr. Andrew Barr, without undertaking any study of the area went public in the Canberra Times dated 13th November, saying that realigning the road is not feasible and showed no sanctity to the Democratic process.

Over the last year and a half residents have put in a tremendous effort to bring to the attention of the ACT Government that there is a Planning disaster in waiting, the efforts by the residents need to be multiplied to keep alive their dream of “Country living in the City” otherwise very soon the ACT Government will commence building the Well Station drive extension which will take shape into 4 lane road with traffic speed of 80Kms/hr and with conservative estimate projecting the road will have traffic volume of 20,000 vehicles per day. Imagine the noise, pollution and dangerous intersection with Horse Park drive on to the lives of the Harrison resident’s? How can a Government turn a blind eye to their own people? Government is by the people and for the people.

by Uday Kaza, Harrison resident

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