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Gungahlin Dr extension faces Senate obstacle
Canberra Times, 15 August 2001
By LIZ ARMITAGE
The Senate has the numbers to block the ACT Government's preferred eastern route for the Gungahlin Drive extension.
Labor Senator Kate Lundy told The Canberra Times yesterday the matter should not be decided by Federal Parliament.
But if it were, Labor would join the Greens and the Democrats in blocking the eastern route.
Meanwhile, ACT Government ministers expressed dismay at the notion of federal invention on a matter they said should be decided by the people of Canberra.
But the National Capital Authority said the road could not be built without federal involvement because it required a change to the National Capital Plan.
The NCA moved recently to confirm the eastern route on the national plan, drawing accusations of pre-empting a debate in the Assembly.
NCA spokesman John Bolton said yesterday the NCA's position at the time was that the eastern route was an appropriate solution. But the confirmation of this route on the national plan was open to public consultation.
He expected an Assembly decision before the consultation period ended on September 7.
If the Assembly did not want to proceed with the eastern route, the NCA would take that into account when making its recommendation to the Federal Government.
Once the recommendation was made, Territories Minister Ian Macdonald would table in Federal Parliament an amendment to the national plan, or call a committee inquiry.
It was a long process that would ultimately be decided by Federal Parliament, Mr Bolton said.
The NCA could not accommodate suggestions that it leave the matter alone. Instead, it was trying to work with the ACT to achieve an outcome.
Greens Senator Bob Brown flagged last week a move to block the eastern route in the Senate.
Yesterday, Senator Lundy accused him and the Democrats of jumping the gun, saying no amendment had been put before Federal Parliament.
Later this month, in the last sitting of this term, the Assembly will debate whether the road, to ease traffic congestion for Gungahlin, should run to the east or the west of the Australian Institute of Sport precinct.
The Assembly is divided on the route, and Independent Health Minister Michael Moore will hold the deciding vote.
Chief Minister Gary Humphries said the October 20 ACT election was an opportunity for Canberra people to comment on the road.
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Authorised by D.Bagnall, 29
Boobialla St, O'Connor, ACT.