WODEN VALLEY COMMUNITY COUNCIL INC

Public  Meeting, 1930, 5 May 2005

Orpheus Room, Hellenic Club


1. Chair David Menzel welcomed all in attendance inluding Ms Deb Foskey MLA;
apologies, Bill O¹Brien WVCC Secretary. All other committee members present.

2. The Chair invited Ms Barb Barrett, guest speaker from ACTION to address
and discuss with the meeting on recent and forthcoming developments in the
enhancement of ACTION¹s services. Key points addressed included:-

. The recent introduction of flexibus services to many areas of Canberra
resulting in a considerable improvement in evening services; it is an on
demand, flexible route service that has proved popular because it offers
flexibility in travel times and routes, providing scope for passengers to
join or alight closer to their homes

. Real time timetable displays to be introduced to interchanges and major
bus stops and possibly a some retail sites an accessible through personal
computer systems

. Low flow, air conditioned buses now used exclusively on intertown routes

. New advertising campaign is promoting the advantages of bus travel over
private motoring.; new TV advertisement was demonstrated.

3. Mr Menzel introduced Russell Parkinson, Chief Executive, Canberra Urban
Parks and Places and invited him to address and discuss with the meeting the
scope and direction and major issues confronting CUPP:-

. Phone and e-mail links to key CUPP functional areas identified

. Main challenges facing CUPP included working effectively with community,
achieving maximum water efficiency, balancing presentation with fire and
public safety responsibilities, managing an ageing urban forest, restoration
post-drought, value for money an minimal bureaucracy

. CUPP undertook extensive community surveys of its performance and
monitored trends n community feedback

. Responsibilities very wide ranging and include urban catchment management
functions (eg trees, parks, pools, sports grounds, cleaning public places,
pest / pet management, free plant issue)

. Approvals, inspection and regulatory functions

. Administers Community Partnership Program to develop links with the
community eg Seniors¹ Sports Carnival and promotes event management to
promote use of urban open space eg Teddy Bear¹s Picnics.

. $39 million annual budget including $23 million for urban open space and
cleaning and $7.3 million for sports grounds maintenance, tree management,
pool and capital works. Noted that new design public toilets now being
introduced requiring less maintenance (eg Mawson).

. Points in response to questions:- Review of Edison Pond restoration and
modifications to make it more water efficient still underway ­ some
indication to community of timing of work would be ppreciated;  community is
encouraged to use CUPP hotlines for complaints or queries rather than
Minister; CUPP considering possibility of extending Adopt A Road to include
monitoring of roadside vegetation areas; major funding will be required to
offset adverse effects of drought on the urban forest and sports grounds /
parks.   

. Other issues raised in discussion ­ apparent lack of effective monitoring
of contractor service delivery standards, damage to public CUPP assets by
builders, billboards on public lands, timeliness of dead tree removal,
concerns over delay in restoration of Stromlo Forest area. There is a major
rolling program under way to remove dead, dangerous and dying trees.

4. Mr Menzel outlined implications of ACT Budget for Woden noting that WVCC
/ Woden Community Service had lodged a joint submission advocating the
provision of a community meeting facility in Woden and supporting the
restoration of Phillip Oval to AFL standard. Government had supported the
latter with $1.7 million allocated, but provision for a community meeting
facility not included in Budget.

5. Chair noted that there is now limited time for community feedback on
proposed development of Phillip Motor Registry site as a car yard; concerns
expressed by Ms Holmes / Mr Reddy re traffic hazards associated with
proposed roadside parking adjoining the site on Melrose Drive - these
concerns to be forwarded to ACT Government in a WVCC submission.

Administration: Mr Reddy reported on progress with Art Show 2005; Chair
advised that the WVCC internet site was now operational.