Please note that there is a date change for the next Public Meeting of the Weston Creek Community Council. We have decided to defer the meeting to Wednesday 1 May at the Weston Club at 7.30 pm so as to not conflict with Anzac Day.
I am pleased to be able to say that our Guest Speaker will be Mr Shane Rattenbury, the Minister for Territory and Administrative Services. So come along to find out what plans the ACT Government has for Weston Creek. Areas open for discussion include bus services, roadworks, public domain maintenance and the pick-up of large rubbish items.
This is a chance to hear the Minister speak and to ask questions of him.
Roads seem to be the flavour of the month. I met with RoadsACT earlier this month and we discussed the proposed changes to the Streeton Drive and Cotter Road intersection. I am hopeful that our discussions have led to a better outcome for this intersection. Work is likely to commence in the next couple of months here. We have also seen the speed limit restrictions on the new section of the Cotter Road between Streeton Drive and the Tuggeranong Parkway lifted though we still have the roadworks closer to Curtin causing delays.
I also raised the problems in morning peak rush with the Davenport/Launceston Streets roundabout in Lyons and delays in passing through the Hindmarsh Drive Melrose Drive lights. RoadsACT were to conduct reviews of both.
Another roads issue which will soon impact on residents is the Hilder/Heysen Streets intersection which is to be changed to a roundabout due to the new estate development by Defence Housing Australia. There is never a good time to undertake roadworks and I have met with the contractors and DHA and work will likely begin on 6 May and is planned to be finished by mid to late July. It will mean that Hilder Street will be closed for access from Heysen Street for the duration of the roundabout works. DHA are in the process of providing those residents impacted with a letter outlining this.
For the majority of the time of the works, the traffic along Heysen St will be reduced to one lane and controlled by temporary traffic signals. The signals will be phased to allow 85% of traffic to flow eastbound (towards Woden) during the morning peak and the reverse in the afternoon peak. Flagmen will be used during the morning peak to allow traffic to enter Heysen St from Gruner St as required. These plans have been discussed and agreed in principal with RoadsACT.
Council has also written to ActewAGL to clarify issues surrounding the replacement of electricity poles as outlined in the Canberra Times on 18 April and will place the response on our website.
Council also made a Submission to the Review of the Size of the ACT Legislative Assembly. The final report by the Expert Reference Group has now been released by the Chief Minister. Council’s main point was that the most important issue for Community Councils is for their community to stay within the one electorate and for this to occur we might need to be creative with the size of each electorate rather that strictly follow the “one vote one value” criteria and made suggestions as to how this might be achieved.
To keep up to date with all issues affecting Weston Creek please monitor the Weston Creek Community Council’s website at www.wccc.com.au .
Tom Anderson
Chair