Jack Kershaw doesn’t want to see light rail stage 2B go across Commonwealth Avenue Bridge or through a tunnel to State Circle. Photo: ACT Government.
One submission to light rail stage 2B’s draft EIS statement has proposed a whole new route the creator believes offers “more respect, panache, and verve” than the current routes under consideration.
Canberra Community Action on Acton Inc and The Residents Rally for Canberra Inc former president Jack Kershaw argued the route should leave Commonwealth Avenue Bridge alone, instead snaking along the Acton foreshore and crossing Lake Burley Griffin from the National Museum of Australia.
The architect said his design was more respectful of heritage, uplifting and inclusive.
“[It would be] simpler and quicker to build, with improved benefits for the ACT, the Capital and the nation, as well as for national attractions, institutions, offices and business, and for workers, shoppers, students, visitors and residents, the environment and the economy,” Mr Kershaw said.
He felt the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge and the “superb cultural landscape” of the avenue’s south and surrounds should be “entirely excluded” from stage 2B.
“Passengers crossing the lake on the government’s proposed new bridge, inserted between the two existing carriageways, would shamefully have their views of the lake largely impeded,” Mr Kershaw said.
“State Circle North should also not be part of the tram route, because its inclusion is extremely difficult and costly to achieve, and it does not adequately serve the body of the Parliamentary Triangle, nor the very important growing employment, commercial, and residential precinct of Barton.”
Mr Kershaw is firmly against the ACT Government’s preferred route through State Circle East, calling the proposed tunnel at the southern end of Commonwealth Avenue “intrusively visible”. He argued it would detract from the “iconic view” of Capital Hill.
“The use of Commonwealth Avenue, south of stage 2A (City to Commonwealth Park), and now the ‘knee-jerk’ tunnel proposal for State Circle are clearly causing consternation in the community,” he said.
Mr Kershaw’s design would see the light rail route turn off Commonwealth Avenue into the Acton Waterfront and park precinct, continue on Lawson Crescent to go alongside ANU South, link up with the National Museum and Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, before reaching Acton Peninsula’s southern shore.
“[It could go] across the lake on a new, elegant, arching and curving (complementing the circular plan form of West Basin), quicker and more straight-forward to build … steel, tram, bike, and pedestrian bridge,” he said.
“[It would be] redolent of and paying homage to Griffin’s missing weir crossing there, and offering wonderful views for passengers of the lake and beyond.”
It would link up with Flynn Drive’s northern end and go underneath Commonwealth Avenue South, onwards to Langton Crescent before matching up with the already-under consideration dog-leg route through Barton.
“Preferably, the tramline would instead pass to the south of Old Parliament House, on or near Queen Victoria Terrace, with a tram stop near there … and then more directly across Kings Avenue to National Circuit in Barton, and beyond,” Mr Kershaw said.
One submission’s argued light rail stage 2B could go along the Acton Waterfront and cross Lake Burley Griffin along a new bridge. Photo: Jack Kershaw.
He argued “cost-saving” overhead cables would be able to be used on the Acton Waterfront and new lake bridge, and that it would avoid any complex and costly risks of unforeseen issues in the current preferred route through State Circle.
Mr Kershaw felt now was the time to put forward the alternative as nothing could proceed on stage 2B until the National Capital Authority had completed its upgrades to the bridges.
“I and others have a feeling that this current, very late in the piece, EPBC release for public comment could be also intended to provide time to re-visit the route, and maybe other aspects,” he said.
“[My] revised arrangement saves Commonwealth Avenue and its famous bridge, and sets the preservation scenario for … Kings Avenue with its bridge.
“It’s not too late. Save the Bridge. Save the Avenue. Reap more benefits.”
Infrastructure Canberra welcomed feedback on the draft EIS and said it would consider all community submissions, including this one.
But a spokesperson pointed out some issues with any new proposed routes.
“Any departure from the National Capital Plan could introduce planning and delivery risks, including the need for amendments and additional Commonwealth approvals,” they said.
On Mr Kershaw’s submission in particular, they said it presented delivery and environmental challenges that hadn’t been investigated in any detail as it wasn’t consistent with the National Capital Plan.
“The ACT Government’s preferred route – across Commonwealth Avenue Bridge and via State Circle East – was selected after extensive analysis and consultation, and is supported by the National Capital Authority,” the spokesperson said.
“It balances transport outcomes, heritage and landscape values, technical feasibility, and alignment with long-term urban planning objectives.”
