We’ve had a busy last few weeks, making 4 submissions over the course of a month!

We have made submissions on:

• ACT Budget for 2021-22
• Canberra Brickworks Precinct – draft Environmental Impact Statement for its redevelopment and development
• ACT Planning System Review and Reform Project
• Inquiry into Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Amendment Bill 2021 (No. 2) being conducted by the ACT Legislative Assembly”s Standing Committee on Planning, Transport, and City Services

“Road users who can do the greatest harm”, such as those in cars, vans and trucks, “have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger they may pose to others”

Until we have a much larger number of people active with Living Streets Canberra, we can only make submissions when the issue is critical – and our volunteers have the capacity to do so. That’s because making each submission requires research, thinking, writing and collaboration – and all of that takes time and skills (and skills can be learnt!).

So how do we choose when we’d like to make a submission?

Usually it’s on a process or issue that will have a big effect – direct or indirectly – on how it will affect the safety, convenience, attractiveness and ease of walking in Canberra.

ACT Budget

The ACT Budget is important because that’s where the ACT Government decides its priorities for spending – and for measuring the effects of that spending. Walking is a basic human function, a part of every journey and an essential component of so many of the ACT’s objectives – yet we don’t see this reflected in our transport infrastructure, decisions on how that infrastructure is built and maintained, or the measures of progress for improving the infrastructure for walking.

Canberra Brickworks Precinct

Major developments can influence the way Canberra is built into the future. The Canberra Brickworks Precinct will be such a major development. It is a significant urban renewal and infill project. Several Community Groups (as a Community Panel) and the ACT Government agreed a set of Objectives for the Canberra Brickworks Precinct. Some of the Objectives were: 

• being a showcase of global best practice measures and outcomes for sustainability, community focus, and resilience 
• demonstrating commitment to zero (or negative) greenhouse gas emissions – and note that zero net emissions by 2045 is legislated in the ACT
• demonstrating how active and public transport will be the attractive, safe (and perceived to be safe) and accessible transport choice in the Precinct
• providing comfort and resilience in the warming climate

All these objectives are aligned with our goals. For example, walking, either on its own or for using public transport, helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions arising from private, hire and ride-share motor vehicles. 

So, we have an interest in how the precinct is developed.

The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is one of three critical processes for major developments to proceed. There is opportunity for other parties – importantly, including community groups as well as members of the community – to have a say during these processes. And each process has tight timeframes that are set down in legislation.

So, we had a time-critical opportunity to say how well – or not – the draft EIS is doing its job.

We didn’t consider that the draft EIS mentioned and addressed the relevant ACT legislation and policies – which the government required it to do. There were also a few other things we thought needed addressing.

So, we felt it important to make a submission. It mentioned legislation and policies that needed to be included, especially the ACT’s Transport Strategy 2020, the ACT’s legislation relating to climate change, and the Objectives agreed between the community and the government. (Why our interest in climate change? Walking, either on its own or for using public transport, helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions arising from private, hire and ride-share motor vehicles. And our city needs to be adapted to make walking more comfortable and safe in the warming climate, particularly when there’s extreme weather.)

ACT Planning System Review and Reform Project

ACT Government is reviewing the ACT planning system to improve it and make it more accessible and easy to navigate and to encourage participation in planning.

Major changes like this come up only every 10 years or so – so it’s an unmissable opportunity to influence the future of our city.

We made a submission because:

• walking is part of every journey, is the most popular form of exercise and is valued by the Canberra community – so walking must be given priority and prominence in the planning system
• the planning system needs to facilitate good infrastructure and environments for walking throughout the ACT, not just in certain districts or neighbourhoods

Inquiry into Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Amendment Bill 2021 (No. 2)

This Bill came about because our laws do not currently include a proper penalty for when a negligent driver harms a vulnerable road user – and that penalty must reflect community expectations that our most vulnerable will be afforded an additional layer of protection.