To a hammer everything is a nail!
"Though the dogs bark, the caravan moves on" (Arabic proverb).
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Constructing an Ellerton Drive Extension was first conceived in the 70s, shortly after demise of the horse and buggy era. In 50 years since much has changed in demographics, knowledge attitudes, electric vehicles and transport needs. In attempting to market it to an unaccepting populace the former federal member labelled it a "bypass", somewhat reminiscent of Humpty Dumpty's assertion: "When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean"!
Council's figures demonstrate traffic on Monaro Street would be minimally reduced, hence leviathan B-doubles would still thunder through. The premises on which EDE was predicated would now require serious re-evaluation. Economist John Maynard Keynes famously said: "When the facts change I change my mind...". No such change to thinking has taken place in Queanbeyan.
Despite Senate and Greens challenge, construction is scheduled for mid-2017.
About six years ago the proposed project was sold at $50m, but figures tossed about now put the cost at $80m. The latter figure, with pledges of $25m each from federal and state governments, leaves a whopping $30m to be found!
The crash, or crash through, attitude to this project is indicative that the "post fact" era has descended. Research, to be published by the University of Melbourne, unsurprisingly, indicates a growing disenchantment with democratic systems. Money is the source all power. The ballot box has minimal relevance.
Albert M. White, Queanbeyan
Ellerton Drive Extension moving ahead
Preliminary work has commenced on the EDE, the most vital piece of infrastructure to ensure the road network can handle the growth that will occur in the city over the next 10-15 years.
The EDE has been on the maps since the 1970s and has been supported in some form by eight successive councils. The road has been subject to many studies, reviews, modelling and community consultation, with approvals provided by state and federal government departments.
Googong has around 400 occupied houses. In 10-15 years, that will rise to 5500 meaning an additional 15,000 residents. Traffic modelling shows arterial roads like Cooma St, Monaro St and Queens Bridge would fail well before Googong reaches capacity without the EDE. The EDE will provide an alternate route for traffic from Googong, Jerrabomberra, Karabar to central and northern Canberra and east of Queanbeyan. The EDE provides a route for quarry trucks, which will be required to use it.
The Googong and Tralee Traffic Study (2031) looked at many options. The study showed the EDE provided the best solution. Dunns Creek Rd is required if further residential development occurs beyond that already planned at Googong and Tralee, however the EDE is the priority.
Some argue the EDE will dump additional traffic on Yass Rd. In fact, the EDE will allow that traffic to bypass the CBD and get where they’re going quicker. Planning is underway to duplicate the first stage of Pialligo Avenue from the NSW/ACT border towards the airport. The estimate for the EDE is $86m, of which the NSW and federal governments have contributed $50m. The remaining will be funded by long-term, low interest loan taken out by council to be fully repaid by developer contributions, including interest. This is standard practice to ensure infrastructure is built well before the road network fails. There will be no increase to rates to fund the construction of this project and maintenance will be built into council’s budget. Major construction is expected to commence mid-2017 and will take about two years.
Peter Tegart, interim general manager, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council
