The following residents of the ACT draw the attention of the Assembly to their support for extending Light Rail Stage 2B to Mawson, noting that significant benefits of the extension would include:
- A more fulsome realisation of the economic and lifestyle benefits from having a public transport spine running through the Woden Valley;
- Proximity to the popular Mawson Park and Ride facility, which could be expanded;
- Connections to the Phillip Business District, Marist College, Melrose High School, Torrens Primary School, Southlands Shopping Centre, and the Mawson District Playing Fields;
- Reduced reliance on the Woden Town Centre Interchange for all major connections between buses and light rail;
The ACT Government has already conducted scoping and design works for an extension to Mawson, which demonstrates the feasibility of the extension. The ACT Government has indicated that an extension to Mawson would not have the same approval requirements as the section traversing the parliamentary zone, and is not required to be included within the same Environmental Impact Assessment that is currently underway. Therefore, adding an extension to Mawson will not slow down the federal approvals currently underway for Stage 2B.
Placing a light rail terminus in the Woden Town Centre would add to the disruption of commuters and local businesses during both the construction of Stage 2B and again when future construction works on Stage 4 to Tuggeranong commence. This would be similar to what is currently being experienced around the Alinga Street terminus of Stage 1. A Mawson terminus would significantly alleviate these pressures and frustrations. Extending Light Rail Stage 2B to Mawson will provide the ACT Government with enhanced flexibility in its planning and development of future public transport routes.
Your petitioners, therefore, request the Assembly to call on the ACT Government to include an extension to Mawson in the final design and business case for Light Rail Stage 2B.