Committee Secretary Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories PO Box 6021 Parliament House ACT 2600

Dear Committee Secretary

Inquiry into Commonwealth and Parliamentary approvals for the proposed Stage 2 of the Australian Capital Territory light rail project

The Community Council (WVCC) welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Joint Standing Committee (Committee) on the National Capital and External Territories Inquiry into the development of stage 2 of the Australian Capital Territory light rail project.

The WVCC supports the best outcomes for all of Canberra’s residents in the design of the light rail network. Before approving the project, the WVCC recommends that the Committee considers the findings of the Business Case and assess the robustness of the analysis of the alignment options in the context of an integrated transport network.

The light rail network taken to the 2016 election by the Government shows a direct alignment from Woden, via the west side of , to the City. The Parliamentary Triangle was to be serviced by an alignment to Manuka, . See attachments A, B and C.

The stage 2 light rail alignment through the Parliamentary Triangle was chosen by the ACT Government after receiving initial feedback in June 2017 on light rail route options and stop locations. At this time there was no information on travel times to inform the communities views.

It can only be assumed that public transport users from South Canberra, Woden, and will merge in Barton and be taken to the primary employment and education hub in the city via, the cultural institutions in Parkes.

The WVCC recommends that prior to approvals being given by the , the Committee satisfies itself that one track heading north through the Parliamentary

PO Box 280 Woden ACT 2606; e-mail: [email protected] www.wvcc.org.au Facebook: WodenValleyCommunityCouncil Twitter: WVCC_Inc

Triangle has the capacity to move a growing population to work, particularly in the morning peaks. Approvals should not be provided until the community has been consulted on the details of the service that will be provided and independent assurance is sought to validate the patronage forecasts and capacity of the network through the Parliamentary Triangle.

Consideration of the section through the Parliamentary Triangle by the Australian Government cannot be undertaken in isolation of the broader network.

This also includes investigation of the benefits and costs of longer travel times for the backbone of Canberra’s public transport network by deviating through the Parliamentary Triangle. It also includes analysis of the origin/destination data, the patronage data for over 130,000 people in Tuggeranong, Woden and Weston.

The matters that the Committee should consider prior to approving the project are detailed below.

Terms of Reference

1. the relevant parliamentary approval processes for works within the Parliamentary zone;

The National Capital Plan (NCP) is the strategic plan for Canberra and the Territory. It ensures that ‘Canberra and the Territory are planned and developed in accordance with their national significance’.

Section 3.1.4 of the NCP refers to an inter-town public transport system which would be reserved against a possible future need to develop a system of inter town and express routes suitable for buses or other public transport modes as appropriate.

In recognition of the importance of the Parliamentary Triangle, approval processes should ensure the best outcomes for light rail in the Parliamentary Triangle.

2. the roles of the National Capital Authority and the Australian Government, and the associated approval processes;

Planning

The National Capital Authority and the Australian Government are responsible for ensuring Canberra is planned in accordance with the intent of the NCP.

This includes ensuring that the nationally significant Parliamentary Triangle is not compromised by congestion caused by all of the public transport users in the south of Canberra unnecessarily passing through the area.

In 2016, the light rail network for the Parliamentary Triangle had its own alignment that carried through to South Canberra. The public transport network should meet the needs of the users of the Parliamentary Triangle with the experience of tourists (their ability to secure a seat) important to Canberra’s tourism economy. PO Box 280 Woden ACT 2606; e-mail: [email protected] www.wvcc.org.au Facebook: WodenValleyCommunityCouncil Twitter: WVCC_Inc

The population of Canberra is growing (including Woden and the south) and the capacity of the public transport network has to meet the demand. One light rail track to service all public transport users in the southern districts, including South Canberra, Woden, Weston Creek and Tuggeranong may not be sufficient for the morning peak in the longer term. We note that other Australian cities use a variety of transport modes to move people to the CBD including heavy rail, light rail and buses.

The direct alignment, using the west side of State Circle, provides a greater opportunity to provide a third track to increase capacity and provide for express services to the south.

The opportunity to shape Canberra with vibrant social and economic hubs (town centres) joined with rapid public transport that moves people to jobs and services is of national significance. The town centres should support densification (that is done well) with the community at the heart of the planning. The town centres should have jobs, education, housing choices and community amenity including open green spaces and recreational facilities. They should be places where people want to be.

The NCA and the Australian Government should ensure that the public transport backbone for fast services between town centres and the public transport services in the Parliamentary Triangle are commensurate with the national importance of the areas.

Review and Compliance

The NCA, on behalf of the Australian Government, should undertake an independent review of significant infrastructure that impacts on the nationally significant capital of .

While a decision on the alignment has been made by the ACT Government, without the release of the Business Case, there has not been and independent review by transport experts to assess the merits of the proposal and alternative alignments.

The NCA should ensure that the proposal is independently reviewed to ensure that the longer travel times are the best option for commuters and that the merging of tracks in Barton allows for growth in the network in the future.

3. possible impacts on the Parliamentary zone and Parliamentary precincts, including any impacts on the heritage values and national importance of the Parliamentary zone and our national capital; and

Growing populations lead to congestion on our roads and public transport networks.

The lack of precinct planning (particularly in Woden) to provide town centres that are social and economic hubs where people can ‘live, work and play’ forces residents in to their cars and public transport to travel to other districts for social and recreational activity. With the seating configuration of the trams, it is possible that many people, including tourists, will be standing for their journey. This will primarily impact on passengers boarding in the Parliamentary Triangle as they will be last passengers to board. PO Box 280 Woden ACT 2606; e-mail: [email protected] www.wvcc.org.au Facebook: WodenValleyCommunityCouncil Twitter: WVCC_Inc

With the increasing patronage from the south, the reserved corridor should be future proofed and be wide enough to allow for an additional track to provide express services and increased capacity when required.

4. the identification of matters that may be of concern prior to formal parliamentary or Australian Government consideration of the project;

Information on the advantages/disadvantages of the various alignments, travel time savings, stop locations, park n ride options, cycle connectivity and implications for densification have not been provided for the community to make an informed decision on the merits of the proposed alignment.

Travel times

While the characteristics of public transport includes fast, regular and comfortable services, it is not clear that the slower travel times being offered by the proposed alignment through Parliamentary Triangle will be conducive to increasing public transport usage.

The merging of the corridors will reduce the capacity of the current public transport corridors from the existing blue rapid services on , a number of routes using King Edward Terrace and others using Constitution Avenue to one corridor for all public transport users from the south.

Currently the blue rapid inter-city rapid bus service takes 16 minutes in peak periods and 13 minutes in non-peak periods from the Woden bus interchange. It is possible that these times will double with many passengers having an additional dwell time in Woden as they change from bus to tram. Approvals should not be granted until a business case is provided with the underpinning data and analysis of the travel times from Tuggeranong, Woden and Weston to provide transparency to the community.

In addition, the consolidation of much of Canberra’s activity in the north of Canberra (eg Yr 12 at the Bruce CIT, hydrotherapy pool at the new Bruce Rehabilitation Hospital, indoor sports facilities) will increase the journey times from up to 1 and a half hours to up to 2 hours each way. This is a deterrent to students accessing courses at the Bruce CIT.

Consultation

In mid 2017, the ACT Government sought initial feedback from the community on alignments and the location of stations. The ACT Government did not provide any information (eg travel times or mode change dwell times) to inform people’s views. Seeking initial views is not consultation on the merits of the proposal.

The ACT Government should release the business case and facilitate consultation and a discussion on the merits of the direct alignment and the Parliamentary Triangle alignment.

5. any other relevant matter the Committee wishes to examine. PO Box 280 Woden ACT 2606; e-mail: [email protected] www.wvcc.org.au Facebook: WodenValleyCommunityCouncil Twitter: WVCC_Inc

Canberra's population is projected to increase significantly over the next 20 years to over 500,000 leading to densification, particularly in the town centres and a requirement for precinct planning.

Densification and precinct planning

Population growth, densification and new train lines provide governments with opportunities to shape the future of the city and improve connectivity and the well being of the community.

Investment in the light rail public transport network in Canberra is a significant financial commitment and planning that is commensurate with this investment is required to ensure the intended outcomes of light rail to Woden are achieved.

The business case will require a calculation of the benefits and costs of the proposal which, similarly to stage 1, will include wider economic benefits such as land use benefits and agglomeration benefits.

In order to fully understand the potential benefits of a vibrant, socially and environmentally sustainable Town Centre, a design-led, people-focused urban renewal strategy is required to consider the best options for land use and agglomeration benefits to be included in the business case.

Currently the Town Centre is at risk of not meeting its potential for the Woden community due to developments being considered in an isolated ad hoc manner. A design led strategy for Woden will lead to confidence in the Town Centre, by both the community and developers, and progress urban renewal.

The vision in the Master Plan was for the Town Square to be the ‘central focal point for social and community activity that will connect people to a network of safe and active streets and public parks’.

The Woden Town Centre Master Plan was developed prior to the commitment to the light rail network in Canberra. The strategy for the development of Woden needs to be updated with a design led solution. This will bring confidence to both the community and the developers as they will be assured that their investments will be commercially sustainable as Woden thrives.

Funding and financing opportunities can be identified to provide community assets that do not provide a revenue stream and are unlikely to be provided by the private sector, including a community/arts centre, a CIT, a multipurpose sports , open spaces and a decent pool.

Without a focus on the community it is not clear that Woden’s vibrancy is guaranteed which may impact on the ongoing patronage of the light rail network.

PO Box 280 Woden ACT 2606; e-mail: [email protected] www.wvcc.org.au Facebook: WodenValleyCommunityCouncil Twitter: WVCC_Inc

Recommendation

The WVCC recommends that the Australian Government does not provide approvals until the Business Case is released for scrutiny and an independent review is undertaken to determine:

 The impact of merging all public transport users from the south in Barton, particularly around demand and capacity of the single northerly line;  whether the corridor can be widened for future population growth and increased patronage;  the impact of increased mode change and slower travel times on patronage;  the benefits and costs of the alternative direct alignment;  the requirement for precinct planning along the corridor and in Woden.

A consultative process that has the community’s interests forefront will build confidence in the process and outcomes for both the community and the private sector.

We agree with the Chief Minister’s ‘Statement of Ambition’ that states that Cities don’t succeed by chance, they require design and good governance.

Background

Policy Framework

The National Capital Plan provides for relatively self-contained, separate and distinct towns:

One of the key principles of Canberra’s urban structure has been that a hierarchy of centres has been developed, with each town having a centre acting as a focal point for higher order retail functions, commercial services, offices and community facilities … Continued expansion of services and facilities should be provided for and encouraged in each of the town centres. With respect to employment, the National Capital Plan states that public sector office employment should be encouraged to locate in the City Centre and the Town Centres.

The Territory Plan (2.1) provides:

Canberra will continue to develop as a series of discrete urban areas within a landscape setting of hills, ridges and other open spaces. Each town will offer a diversity of housing types; the broadest possible range of employment opportunities; and convenient, linked access to retail centres, community facilities and open space.

Woden Town Centre Master Plan provides the following vision:

Woden Town Centre is a major community and commercial hub for the Woden Valley and wider Canberra region. It will be a place that attracts people to live, work, socialise and enjoy throughout the day and evenings. The town square is the central focal point for social and community activity that will connect people to a network of safe and active streets and public parks.

Community facilities are identified as important in all of these documents. PO Box 280 Woden ACT 2606; e-mail: [email protected] www.wvcc.org.au Facebook: WodenValleyCommunityCouncil Twitter: WVCC_Inc

The ACT Government’s policy

The WVCC supports planning that will locate community and educational facilities strategically to strengthen the pedestrian network and create more diverse and lively areas. Improvement to the vibrancy of the Woden Town Centre will improve patronage of public transport networks.

The WVCC is pleased to participate in the Chief Minister’s vision for Canberra, as stated in his document - CANBERRA: A statement of ambition:

‘One of the world’s most liveable and competitive cities – welcoming to all.

Celebrating our Centenary has helped us focus on what’s special about our city and confirmed our exciting future. As a government and as a community, we must build on that feeling, and create that future, together’.

Cities don’t succeed by accident or by leaving things to chance – they require design, good governance and great collaboration. Cities must internally collaborate to compete in the modern era, and together we can ensure Canberra wins the global contest for investment and talent’.

The policy framework to implement this vision includes Town Centres that are relatively self-contained for the community to live, work, learn and socialise in their town centre.

The proposed light rail provides an opportunity to plan for urban renewal and create a future that provides hope and opportunity for residents to meet their potential. This opportunity does not arise very often and the WVCC is keen to collaborate with all stakeholders to provide a vibrant Town Centre with transport connections.

PO Box 280 Woden ACT 2606; e-mail: [email protected] www.wvcc.org.au Facebook: WodenValleyCommunityCouncil Twitter: WVCC_Inc

Light Rail Master Plan Attachment A

PO Box 280 Woden ACT 2606; e-mail: [email protected] www.wvcc.org.au Facebook: WodenValleyCommunityCouncil Twitter: WVCC_Inc

Southern connection to Woden (and ultimately to Tuggeranong) Attachment B

PO Box 280 Woden ACT 2606; e-mail: [email protected] www.wvcc.org.au Facebook: WodenValleyCommunityCouncil Twitter: WVCC_Inc

Eastern connections to the Airport and Fyshwick Attachment C

PO Box 280 Woden ACT 2606; e-mail: [email protected] www.wvcc.org.au Facebook: WodenValleyCommunityCouncil Twitter: WVCC_Inc

Current stage 2 alignment diverting through Barton and Parkes Attachment D

PO Box 280 Woden ACT 2606; e-mail: [email protected] www.wvcc.org.au Facebook: WodenValleyCommunityCouncil Twitter: WVCC_Inc