“Whether or not the footpaths in their area are well maintained and well connected can be the difference between moving safely through the suburb or not,” said Independent MLA Thomas Emerson. Photo: Ian Bushnell.
Hundreds of footpath repair requests have gone unanswered over 2025, MLA Thomas Emerson has revealed, as the ACT launches an inquiry into the city’s Fix My Street portal.
According to documents released by Mr Emerson, there have been more than 1000 repair requests this year, with 454 remaining outstanding in central Canberra.
“Footpaths can seem like a minor issue that they’re not worth paying attention to, but they could be the one thing in someone’s life that is most heavily impacted by their local government,” Mr Emerson said.
“Whether or not the footpaths in their area are well maintained and well connected can be the difference between moving safely through the suburb or not.”
Mr Emerson said he was now putting together an Inter-Generational Wellness Bill, and highlighted both the safety aspects and the long-term health impacts of encouraging active transport.
He is still in the early stages, consulting experts and the public, but hopes to have something concrete to take to the legislature by the end of the year.
The quality of Canberra’s footpaths and bike paths has been an ongoing debate for decades, with the city ranked as one of the least-walkable major cities in the nation by the Household Travel Survey.
Mr Emerson said Canberrans would be healthier if it were easier to move around without relying on cars. Photo: David Murtagh.
“It’s pretty alarming. Being the least-walkable major city in Australia just doesn’t match with what I think Canberrans think of themselves,” Mr Emerson said.
Mr Emerson isn’t the first to try to campaign for improved active infrastructure. The city’s first cycling protest occurred in 1974 when cyclists rode through the city to call for a separate bike path between the city and Belconnen.
The ACT Government said it was investing heavily in active transport options. Late last year it unveiled the largest active infrastructure plan in decades. It will go into effect next month.
Minister for Infrastructure Catherine King said the government was making active transport easier, announcing an $8.5 million investment in footpaths and cycleways in March.
“Canberra is a beautiful city for walking, cycling and getting outdoors, which is why we’re making it easier to do so by investing in active transport options to better connect the territory,” she said.
“We’re making it easier to do so [be active outdoors] by investing in active transport options to better connect the territory,” Minister for Infrastructure Catherine King said. Photo: Catherine King Facebook.
“There are questions to ask about the prioritisation of funding and investment, and how much has gone into road infrastructure, as opposed to other transport options,” he said.
“The city’s not become car-dependent by accident, that was a planning decision seemingly made quite early on, but that’s been reinforced along the way, and now I think we’re at a fork in the road where we could make a different decision.”
With Canberra’s population predicted to reach around 800,000 by 2060, the city will need major investment in its infrastructure to adapt. Mr Emerson said the city could not keep building its way out of congestion.
“We know that when we duplicate roads, that just leads to more car usage,” he said. ”Eventually, the new road also becomes congested, and then we find ourselves in the same spot we were before.”
Mr Emerson wants a comprehensive plan that focuses on the safety and health of the community, taking inspiration from similar actions in Wales. He hopes his bill will encourage decision-makers to take a longer-term view of development.
“We see ourselves as people who love nature, love being outdoors, and really value our wellbeing. So I think maximising the walkability of the city should be a real priority for our government.”
