The Chronicle has reported that a pedestrian mall was proposed for Hibberson Street at the GCC May meeting. But this is a little off the mark. What we have been proposing is a 'shared zone'.

The 30 people who attended the GCC meeting last week heard ACTPLA talk about the future of Hibberson Street, and a small workshop component gauged people’s thoughts on solutions. The general consensus was much what GCC have been promoting for the last couple of years to resolve the traffic problems.

We have been saying that a mall is not an option - they have proven security problems, as experienced in many other towns such as Coffs Harbour.

Instead a shared zone much like Childers Street in the ANU precinct is our preferred option. High friction for cars in the day time with pedestrians on a reasonably even footing with cars and access to buses or light rail. Less friction and therefore better vehicle access at night, thus ensuring casual surveillance that business operators need at night.

The problem is that Flemington Road was originally intended to connect to Valley Way, but it seems it was pointed into Hibberson instead to deliver a quick hit of passing trade to kick off the major retailers in the town centre. But this has proven very short-sighted as just four years on we have very dangerous conditions for shoppers in the town centre. The ‘through’ traffic (commuters passing through to Ngunnawal, Forde, Yerrabi, etc) needs to be bounced around the town centre, leaving it to ‘destination’ traffic - which is going to grow exponentially once the college, new library, homemaker centre and oval are in place.