Buses would no longer run down Anketell Street in Tuggeranong under a proposal by the area’s community council.
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Tuggeranong Comumunity Council president Glenys Patulny is calling for buses using the street in order to access the nearby interchange to be diverted through side streets.
Ms Patulny said the plan is in response to calls from residents for a revitalisation of the area surrounding Tuggeranong Hyperdome.
“The biggest concern about Anketell Street is the noise from the buses, and yet there are no bus stops there, so there’s no reason for them to go down there,” she said.
“We’re trying to revitalise the area, and the buses just cuts down the amenities there.”
The council’s president proposed for buses using the street to instead travel along Reed Street, Cowlishaw Street and Pitman Street to access the bus interchange.
She said business owners along Anketell have also voiced their concern about the nose from the constant flow of buses down the road.
“They just shake their heads at the nose and it’s off-putting to customers,” Ms Patulny said.
A petition launched by the community council on the bus issue has already garnered “several hundred signatures” and has been submitted to ACT parliament.
The council previously met with members of the territory government and Transport Canberra to discuss the issue.
“They said that they would think about it but they’re not worried about the issue when the community is concerned about it,” Ms Patulny said.
“The government said they were concerned about the length of time it would add to the bus route, and it’s only one minute more if you have both sets of red lights.
“It’s a very little difference in time.”
Ms Patulny said the council aims to have more than 500 people sign the petition and lead to for the bus routes to be able to be changed in the area.
“We started the petition hoping that the government would be able to look at the issue more seriously,” she said.
“We need to let the government know a lot of people concerned by it, rather than wait until the next time they change the bus routes.”
Andrew Brown
I've been part of the Canberra Times since 2016, after reporting at local papers in Sydney's north-west. Since starting at the paper I've had stints on the Sunday Times, on the early morning breaking news round, and now as a general reporter, covering the ins and outs of anything and everything happening in Canberra, with a focus on health.
I've been part of the Canberra Times since 2016, after reporting at local papers in Sydney's north-west. Since starting at the paper I've had stints on the Sunday Times, on the early morning breaking news round, and now as a general reporter, covering the ins and outs of anything and everything happening in Canberra, with a focus on health.
