Further to my post last week about issues with trail bikes in Watson, the ACT Government last week launched Crime Stoppers online.

The site www.act.crimestoppers.com.au provides a range of information including the Schools Youth Crime Awareness Program and the Canberra Community Crime Awareness Program and includes the ability to report crime online here.

Crime Stoppers has been in operation as an anonymous toll-free phone line in the ACT since December 1996. In that time as a result of information provided, 699 arrests have been made, 1882 charges have been laid, $870,350 worth of property has been recovered and drugs, with a street value of $15.9 million, have been seized. More than $16,000 in rewards has been paid.

I was approached last week by a Watson resident about traffic issues in the Cullen Street area. She asked if I could investigate the development of traffic calming measures in Cullen Street as cars and bikes have been speeding, going to and from the foothills of Mt Majura.

I’ve since had further correspondence from residents saying trail bikes are a real issue in the area, with some bikes without mufflers or registration.

There are plenty of kids in the area, with toddlers using the footpaths in reserves to practice on their bicycles. Not a good mix with the trail bikes.

I’ve written to Territory and Municipal Services Minister John Hargreaves and he has Roads ACT looking into the traffic calming measures.

Meanwhile, I would urge all residents to contact Crime Stoppers to report illegal trail bike activity. Crime Stoppers compile a dossier and set traps for illegal trail bike riding and they rely on the information from the public to assist them.

Crime Stopper details are:

Ph: 1800 333 000
www.act.crimestoppers.com.au

Map of Cullen Street Watson and surrounding area

Planning Minister Andrew Barr has launched a study of Gungahlin’s future requirements for the supply of commercial and community land.

Calling for community input, Mr Barr said the ACT Government has invested $200,000 in the study which will “focus on the long-term commercial and community land supply for Gungahlin Town Centre, the character of future development in the town centre and its interpretation with existing development.”

Both the ACT Government and the Gungahlin Community Council (GCC) see the opportunity to increase employment opportunities as a key outcome from the study.

Initial general reaction has been positive. President of the Gungahlin Community Council, Alan Kerlin, posted the map above on the GCC website, providing the following comments:

• Our general impression is that it is great to see some planners working on this project who are as passionate about “saving the town centre” as we are.
• We feel that the more intense commercial use could extend into the areas shown as lighter blue (lower density) to th south, as there would be no residential impacts, and more intense equals more jobs.
• The “gateway” treatment of the top end of Hibberson Street will be critical to get right, as only “destination traffic” should proceed into the town centre. “Through traffic” should be diverted around the centre down either of the Valley Way or Anthony Rolfe Drive. Hibberson Street must be a “high friction” thoroughfare (something like Childers Street at ANU) to aid this discouragement of traffic.
• A similar gateway will be needed at the Ginn Street western end of the town centre to discourage morning commuters from going through the centre.
• There will need to be careful controls via the precinct plan on the development of the C5 zone “Mixed Use” development framing the town centre to prevent more of the Anthony Rolfe Drive kind of 3-storey-townhouse-with-shop effect.
• The business park areas should borrow design hints from Brindabella Park, with setbacks rather than built-to-boundary and greenspaces in order to ensure a highly attractive office environment.
• The transition from offices to the existing surrounding residential areas will have to be carefully controlled.

There is a strong general level of engagement between the ACT Government and the GCC, with genuine dialogue and comprehension of the complex issues that the community faces.

The Gungahlin Planning Study is another step in continuing that engagement and focusing on the achievement of positive outcomes for the residents of Gungahlin.

Our company recently organised to provide flu shots for staff and their partners.

There are a number of mobile medical teams available who will come to your workplace and vaccinate staff. Each person signs a consent form and the vaccinations are performed over a lunchtime.

We figure that for a small outlay, we can help keep people healthy and happy while reducing the incidence of sick leave during winter. For a services-based business, it makes sense and is a classic win-win for everyone.

ACT Health also runs an intensive flu vaccination program for staff to help prevent and lessen the impact of outbreaks.

Influenza vaccine is also provided free under the National Immunisation Program to adults aged 65 years or over, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged 50 or older, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged between 15 and 49 who have risk factors.

The latest ACT & Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Quarterly Business Expectations Survey shows business confidence remains high in the ACT.

80% of businesses surveyed report improved or stable business conditions with a similar number expecting to increase or maintain staffing levels.

I can bear these results out, with the ICT consulting services business I co-own and run showing long term sustainable growth. We have recently put on additional permanent staff and expect to continue growing the team over the coming months.

A lot of people have asked what impact the change of Federal Government has had on business. I’d have to say if anything, it’s been a positive change. No savage cuts to the federal public service, a refocusing of programs to reflect the Rudd Government’s agenda, and a move away from programs that were high on ideology and low on value to the community.

Add to this the Stanhope Government’s 20% increase in Payroll Tax Threshold to $1.5m, a $1 billion investment in infrastructure over the next four years and $51m for initiatives that address the skills shortage and you can see why business confidence in the ACT will continue to remain high in the foreseeable future.

The Stanhope Government has committed $500,000 over 4 years to provide free travel on ACTION buses for people over 75.

Minister for Territory and Municipal Services John Hargreaves says the objective of the scheme is to encourage existing drivers over 75 to surrender their driver’s licence, where they may no longer be capable of driving safely, by providing free transport on ACTION buses.

This is a sensible initiative, which will provide economic assistance to the elderly, help with road safety, and improved environmental outcomes.

I had a chat yesterday with Paul Flint, Executive Director of Council on the Aging (COTA) in the ACT. It’s clear that the needs of the aged are highly complex and the policy initiatives required to address the changing demographics in the ACT will be a constant challenge in the future. It’s something the Stanhope Government recognises and providing free bus travel is one element of the overall strategy.

The announcement in this week’s ACT Budget of the construction of a Community Health Centre in Gungahlin is welcome news for Canberra’s largest growth area.

$18m has been allocated for construction of the Centre, which will form part of the Stanhope Government’s investment in health worth $889m in the 2008/2009 Budget.

As Health Minister Katy Gallagher puts it:

“Located in our town centres, the ACT’s network of community health centres provides a comprehensive range of community based child and family services, mental health, continuing/post acute care services, general preventative and direct care services.

Growth in Canberra’s north requires a new community health centre at Gungahlin as part of this community network.”

The Community Health Centre will provide a range of nursing and clinical services that will help ease pressure on Canberra’s hospital system.

The proposed ActewAGL data centre and power generator south of the Mugga Lane landfill area presents a great opportunity to examine the use of a sustainable and cost-effective solar generation system.

This is a superb project for the ACT and I support it strongly. While gas fired power generation is a big step toward sustainability in energy supply, ActewAGL should use the extended consultation period to take the next step and assess the viability of an alternative solar option. This would help allay the concerns of residents close to the site and would place the ACT at the forefront of sustainable infrastructure development.

Canberra is a smart city with a wide range of home grown businesses that punch well above their weight nationally and internationally. We have a world-class University sector with some of the best and brightest minds living and working in the ACT.

The recent announcement that ActewAGL and the ACT Government will undertake a feasibility study into a Solar Power Plant that can power 10,000 homes demonstrates that this technology is viable. The ACT can and should be a world-leader in solar technology and the data centre can be the next example of our ability to apply that technology.

Should I be elected to represent the people of Molonglo I will be arguing for exactly this type of enhancement to the industrial and economic base of the ACT - a green alternative that offers new employment opportunities while reducing greenhouse gases and our reliance on fossil fuels.

As part of the 2008/2009 ACT Budget, Chief Minister Jon Stanhope announced today that Canberra’s centenary celebrations have been given a $4.3m boost over the next four years.

The increase will assist with initiatives such as a survey to help understand the community’s expectations and the development of a curriculum unit to teach ACT students how and why Canberra became the nation’s capital.

The funding increase will allow for additional staffing to develop activities in community engagement, marketing and promotion.

The proposed fireworks on Black Mountain, Red Hill and Mount Ainslie to welcome the Olympic Flame to Canberra will be an awesome sight to behold.

The “three peaks” fireworks, commencing at 6pm next Wednesday evening, should be able to be seen from Woden through to Belconnen.

There will also be fireworks shortly after 6am the next morning to kick off a free community breakfast at Reconciliation Place as a prelude to the Olympic Torch Relay in Canberra.

The Torch Relay event will commence at Reconciliation Place at 8:30am on Thursday with the first runner, Tania Major, set to leave at 8:45am.