Could light rail stage 2B stretch a few kilometres past Woden to reach Mawson? It’s still a possibility. Photo: Ian Bushnell.
The ACT Government will decide whether light rail stage 2B will extend to Mawson when it finalises its business case in 2028/29.
Transport Minister Chris Steel previously explained that stage 2 had been split into stages 2A and 2B due to the different environmental approvals that would be needed (given that stage 2B goes through Commonwealth land).
During annual reports hearings on Tuesday (18 November), he revealed that some early consideration works to extend light rail stage 2B all the way to Mawson had already been done.
“It’s unlikely there will be the same level of environmental risk with a future extension down to Mawson, and so it hasn’t been included in the [draft] EIS for stage 2B,” Mr Steel said.
“But it would still be considered in a business case in 28/29 about whether the government would want to take up the option of going down to Mawson.
“There will be a decision in the business case to make about whether the scope of the project includes [an extension to Mawson].”
Four alignments for a route to Mawson have been mapped out on the ACT Government’s light rail to Woden website.
One suggests an ‘eastern verge alignment’ on Athllon Drive, which terminates at Beasley Street, while the second and third see the route dog-leg off Athllon Drive onto either Mawson Place or a space between Athllon Drive and Mawson Place. The fourth suggested route would have an alignment down Athllon Drive’s median strip to terminate at Beasley Street South.
Infrastructure Canberra transport and civil executive group manager Anthony Haraldson told the hearings the directorate had done “quite a bit of work” on the Mawson extension’s design, but more would be needed before a final decision is made.
It would also be beholden to budgetary decisions and whichever party is in government when the business case is submitted (if that occurs on time).
Mr Steel said an extension to Mawson “notionally” had some benefits.
“It doesn’t have the same sort of constraints that we’ve seen on the earlier part of the route down Adelaide Avenue,” he said.
“But it would have its own issues that would need to be considered around flooding, water-sensitive urban design … and [it would have] its own cost.”
The 2020/21 ACT Budget contained $1.3 million to assess the feasibility of extending the line from Woden to Mawson.
The ACT Greens have previously advocated for an extension of the light rail to Mawson to be guaranteed in stage 2B, expressing concerns that residents would otherwise have to wait for work to start on the Woden to Tuggeranong stage.
Regardless, work is also being done as part of the Woden Bus Interchange project to prepare for future light rail extensions in Canberra’s south.
The project has been delayed, with Mr Steel previously stating the relocation of utilities had been a major issue to overcome.
Infrastructure Canberra health, education and justice executive group manager Hayley Bell told the hearings that future-proofing initiatives had also held up the project.
“Hopefully [this work now] will avoid disruption in the future when those infrastructure assets are required,” she said.
Future-proofing includes electrical conduits to support the commissioning of light rail, along with improved water and sewer systems to accommodate Woden’s growing population.
The new Woden Public Transport Interchange is now expected to be operational at the end of March 2026.
