8/14/2019 20100116 - Canberra Times: Fears Duntroon ovals to be annexed (Majura Parkway)

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The Canberra Times January 16 2010Fears Duntroon ovals to be annexed

EXCLUSIVEBy Victor Violante

The Defence Department has flagged concerns over the ACT Government’sproposed $250 million Majura Parkway, arguing the planned alignment wouldencroach on Royal Military College Duntroon ovals and create noise problems forresidents.

In its submission to a draft environmental impact study the ACT Governmentlodged with the ACT Planning and Land Authority last year, Defence raisedconcerns about the impact on amenities and residents at Duntroon, including theloss of up to 3ha of a sports oval on Morshead Drive to accommodate theproposed road’s alignment.

Construction of Majura Parkway is largely dependent on the Federal Governmentfunding the bulk of the $250 million, 11.5km four-lane road, which would run west

8/14/2019 20100116 - Canberra Times: Fears Duntroon ovals to be annexed (Majura Parkway)

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of Majura Road and connect the Federal and Monaro highways as a freightcorridor and quick north-south route.

Defence’s submission said the environmental impact study from Roads ACTfailed to consider the construction and operational noise impacts on Duntroon

residents in the senior officer married quarters, which are adjacent to the playingfields and golf course and would be closest to the parkway.

It also expressed concerns about proposed overnight and weekend constructionwork near residences. “Defence is concerned that the EIS has failed to giveadequate consideration to the impact of construction and traffic noise on theresidential area, comprising Senior Office Married Quarters,” the submissionmade in July said.

The ACT Government’s preferred alignment requires the acquisition of 3.3ha of aDuntroon sports oval, which Defence is yet to agree to. In its submission,

Defence argued for an alternative alignment which would be more expensive buttake the road further from the residences and not require the loss of oval land.

The environmental impact study suggested that two other ovals that wouldpotentially be encroached on could be relocated further north, on the other sideof Fairbalrn Avenue. However, Defence rejected this suggestion. “Havingadditional troops required to cross Fairbairn Avenue, a road which is likely tocarry more traffic in the future, to gain access [to] land used for training purposesis an unacceptable risk to Defence personnel.”

Roads ACT director Tony Gill said yesterday the ACT Government had sinceconducted further noise level tests to allay Defence’s concerns about excessivenoise for residents. Although yet to hear back from Defence, Mr Gill believedconcerns had been adequately addressed, and the ACT Government was stillnegotiating with Defence for acquisition of the land. But Defence’s request for analternative alignment was rejected, and the preferred alignment will be retained inthe final environmental impact study.

Note: copyright of the material in this clipping resides with Fairfax Media. Usage permitted in accordance with the Australian Copyright Act 1968, Section 42: Fair dealing for purpose of reporting news. Source: The Canberra Times – 16 January 2010