UPDATE 10 June 2007

The ACT Government has extended the period for reporting back on their inquiry into ACTION until 30 August. The reason stated in the announcement (below) is that they are yet to receive a number of submissions that they are expecting. Seems highly irregular...But the main concern from all of this is that the Committee's reporting - and hence any resulting solutions - are going to be delayed by several more months.

Meanwhile, they've also announced a number of 'witnesses' they will be calling to present their thoughts personally to the Standing Committee. Not sure whether the GCC not making that list means our submission (below) is being ignored, or it's clear enough that no clarification is needed...

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY EXTENDS REPORTING DATE FOR ACTION BUSES INQUIRY 6 June 2007
Standing Committee on Planning and Environment
Mick Gentleman MLA (Chair), Zed Seselja MLA (Deputy Chair), Mary Porter MLA

The ACT Legislative Assembly has extended until 30 August 2007 the reporting date for the ACTION Buses and Sustainable Transport Plan inquiry.

The Chair of the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment, Mr Mick Gentleman MLA, said the extension had been granted because the Committee had yet to receive several significant submissions which the Committee was aware were coming.

'The ACT Government, the National Capital Authority and the ACT Human Rights Commission have each advised the Committee that submissions were being prepared but these have not been yet been received by the Committee', he said.

'Members of the Legislative Assembly will be fully committed with the review of the ACT 2007-08 Budget by the Assembly's Select Committee on Estimates during June, so the Committee's deliberative meetings have had to be postponed', he said.

The Committee has already received, and is considering, 64 submissions. The Committee is particularly grateful for the work done by organisations, peak bodies and community councils in submitting analyses of the views of their members and associates.

The Committee also welcomes the interest taken in the issues underpinning this inquiry by the media, and particularly The Canberra Times, The Chronicle and CityNews.

Please find attached the schedule for the public hearings for this inquiry next week.

For further information please contact the office of Committee Chair, Mr Mick Gentleman MLA on 6205 0131, or Committee Secretary Hanna Jaireth on 6205 0137 or 0415 144283.

Public Hearings for the inquiry into ACTION buses and the Sustainable Transport Plan
Date: 14 June 2007  Time: 1.30pm - 2.30pm  Place: Committee Room 2
1.30pm - 2.30pm Ms Elizabeth Ampt, Director, Behaviour Change, Sinclair Knight Merz
 
Date: 5 June 2007  Time: 9.30am - 12.30pm  Place: Committee Room 1
9.30am-10.00am  Mr Paul Flint, Executive Director, and Mr Rod Templar, board member, COTA (ACT)
 
10.00am-10.30am Mr Bill Tully, President, and Mr Chris Watson, Secretary, Advancement of Public Transport
 
10.30am-11.00am Mr Vic Bayliss, retiree
 
11.00am-12.30pm Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Mr John Hargreaves MLA, and officials
 
These hearings will be broadcast. Members of the public and the media are welcome to attend.

If media are interested in interviewing stakeholders meeting with the Committee please contact the office of Committee Chair, Mr Mick Gentleman MLA on 6205 0131, or Committee Secretary Hanna Jaireth on 6205 0137 or 0415 144283.

UPDATE 18 May 2007

The Inquiry has closes today. Our submission is attached. Thank you to those people who provided input, and I hope I included everyone's points. Your feedback is, as always, most welcome.

5 April 2007

We have received a lot of feedback from Gungahlin residents upset with the changes made to ACT bus timetables - well to be frank we were receiving complaints about lack of bus services for Gungahlin BEFORE the timetable changes...

The ACT Government have copped it over the changes, and have initiated an inquiry. So to users and want-to-be users of ACT public transport, here is your chance to have your say...but it closes 18 May!

Full information on the Inquiry terms of reference and how to make a submission are here.

It would be good if a consolidated GCC submission could be done - so let me know if you wish to work on a submission with us.