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Canberra Today 14°/16° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Get on the bus

Yesterday the Canberra Liberals attacked Labor over what they called the “resurrection” of a “discredited” Belconnen to Civic busway, previously abandoned by the Government in 2006. The Liberals say there needs to be more comprehensive infrastructure planning for the city’s public transport. In fact they’ve got an exposure draft “Infrastructure Canberra Bill 2009“.

Chief Minister Jon Stanhope came out swinging in the afternoon, demanding the Opposition explain to the people of Belconnen why they are treating them as second class citizens – not just in regard to the busway, but also in regards to the purchase of Calvary Hospital.

Bringing every issue back to Calvary is something Stanhope has excelled at in recent weeks, while Health Minister Katy Gallagher on leave. While one cannot help but commend him for the links, it must be asked if Vicky Dunne and Alistair Coe are really ignoring the key travel needs of their Ginninderra constituents?

Would the proposed $115 million busway actually help ease any transport issues?

Is the busway only on the table as a bandaid measure for a public transport system cool enough to have sparked a hatred group on Facebook?

Is it likely that a more comprehensive infrastructure project to improve transport services in Canberra could be produced and implemented in a similar timeframe to the proposed busway?

Could the busway bandaid be it for the people of Belconnen?

The Government is currently seeking Federal funding for the project.

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Thank you,

Ian Meikle, editor

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