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  • 1 year ago
The large amount of construction work in the ACT has led to pedestrian safety concerns and navigation problems for vision impaired people. Commuter groups say the ACT should follow the lead of other Australian cities and prioritise maintaining public pedestrian access.

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00:00Signpost it at 60 but cars do much greater speeds than that if they're allowed to.
00:06I've seen a number of people walking on there since because it's the most convenient way.
00:11The footpath has been blocked off for this development on Condamine Street.
00:14The utilities go underneath the footpath.
00:16To actually put the utilities in meant that the entire footpath had to be taken up.
00:23There are safe alternative options around this development
00:26but the broader issue of footpath access is angering some locals.
00:30It's a constant problem across the territory actually.
00:32Usually by default when a construction project happens the footpath is the first thing to go.
00:37The changing environment is also a challenge for the visually impaired.
00:41My guide dog, as smart as he is, he's not very good at reading sign.
00:49Often left hoping there's a good Samaritan nearby.
00:52Sometimes I just call out, is there anyone around to give me a hand?
00:56But that's not very good because I just like to be able to get around quite independently.
01:02The ACT government paid more than $1.7 million dollars in personal injury claims
01:07associated with community paths last financial year.
01:11It's led to calls for the ACT to follow other states and use shipping containers.
01:16The Territory has plenty of shipping containers.
01:18They're about to no longer be used at the Woden bus interchange.
01:22We could repurpose them to ensure that footpath access is maintained.
01:25The Government says that's something they could use but it's not a one size fits all solution.
01:30It's trying to find a balance.
01:32Between the efficiency of the development plus also making sure that the community can get through as easily as possible.
01:40The Government says it's also begun consultations on a new fee structure with developers
01:44to incentivise them to limit the number of roads and footpaths their developments close.
01:49The End of Model
02:01The End of Model
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