Western Sydney Airport setting fast rail back?

Canberra’s light rail extension split in two

ACT transport minister Chris Steel says the division of the next stage of Canberra’s light rail line into two parts is appropriate considering the major differences in approvals needed for each section.

STEEL SAID ON JULY 5 THE ACT Labor Government remained committed to extending light rail south to Woden, despite opting to split the approvals process for the extension into two discrete parts.

The ACT government and collaborator Canberra Metro completed the first of the project’s two planned stages — a northerly link from Canberra’s city centre (Alinga Street) to Gungahlin — in April at a cost of $675 million. Stage 2 of the project, until now posed as a single project, has been estimated to cost much more however, with initial estimates pegged at $1.3-1.6 billion.

Under the newly announced plans, the line extending south from the recently-opened Gungahlin-Civic light rail line will be split into Stage 2A, from Civic to Commonwealth Park, and Stage 2B, which will take it over Lake Burley Griffin, around Parliament House and through to Woden.

Steel said the ACT will lodge the separate plans for referral under the Commonwealth’s Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. He said progressing separate referrals through the EPBC process is appropriate “given the very different planning, heritage, and environmental considerations in different parts of the corridor”.

The ACT government has been going back and forth in negotiations with the National Capital Authority over a plan both sides can agree to for the part of the rail line now considered Stage 2B. Questions remain over the infrastructure which will be allowed near Parliament House, and whether a new bridge would need to be built or if the existing Commonwealth Avenue Bridge is suitable.

“The route passing through the Parliamentary Zone via State Circle East is included for assessment in a separate Commonwealth Park to Woden EPBC submission,” Steel said.

“It contains more complex considerations, such as the approach to Commonwealth Avenue Bridge and crossing the lake towards Parliament House. It is likely these matters will take longer to resolve with the Commonwealth.”

Meanwhile, it is hoped the division will allow the territory government to get on with at least Stage 2A of the project soon.

“We hope through this approvals process, we

The Canberra light rail line will split at Commonwealth Park.

can get on with the first segment between the City and Commonwealth Park more quickly while we continue to work with the Commonwealth on the approval for remaining part of the route to Woden,” Steel said.

“With the completion of light rail stage one, we have the skills and expertise in the city that can transition to work on the next stage.”

Despite concerns from local groups over news of the split, Steel reiterated that the government remained committed to extending the route all the way to Woden. “Light rail can help reduce congestion in our iconic national areas while bringing more people in to experience our national heritage and collections,” he said.

Could utilise new bridge route

National Capital Authority (NCA) chief executive Sally Barnes has stated that Canberra’s Commonwealth Avenue Bridge could be replaced to accommodate plans for the Canberra Light Rail Stage 2 project. Barnes told ABC Radio Canberra in May the bridge was part of an ageing asset portfolio and that the NCA was considering building a replacement bridge as an option.

Barnes had previously expressed her disagreement with territory government proposals to build a light rail route in the gap between Commonwealth Avenue’s twin bridges while reducing the bridges’ traffic lanes to accommodate the stage two route. “[The Commonwealth Avenue Bridge] was designed in the 50s, built in the 60s, standards have changed for traffic,” Barnes said. “We’ve got a lot more traffic going over there than anyone ever

envisaged — we need to keep it functional and operating.”

Engineers Australia civil structural committee chair Greg Taylor concurred with Barnes, telling the Canberra Times that a new bridge would be a good decision and that elements of the existing Commonwealth Avenue bridge were now outdated.

“From an engineering perspective, you would be able to use better materials and extend the life of the bridge and reduce maintenance costs by building a new one,” he said.

Canberran commuters have enjoyed a month of fare-free travel in the city following revisions to Canberra’s public transport network. Normal paid services will resume from May 27.

“We hope people will continue to use public transport after the free period concludes, and we will keep monitoring the system as people settle into travel patterns and get used to our new integrated public transport network,” said then-transport minister Meegan Fitzharris.

An artist’s impression showing a light rail tram in the background.

The Commonwealth Avenue Bridge could be due for a revamp to accommodate the light rail plans.

Credit Nick D / Creative Commons