Submission to the Raising London Circuit

I wish to add my voice to others speaking out against approval of this work. Its approval should not be contemplated before the case has been demonstrated for the proposals which have generated it, and they have themselves been approved, ie light rail to Commonwealth Park/Woden and the "future developments" within the existing clover leafs. In other words approval of this work should not be given in isolation, but should only be considered within the overall context of which it is a part.

The current grade separated intersection of Commonwealth Avenue, London Circuit and Parkes Way is a free flowing and elegant resolution to the problem of providing choice of direction at that point to north-bound traffic on Commonwealth Avenue. The proposal would replace it with a four way level crossing, increase travel times and delay, reduce traffic flow efficiency, and remove direct access to east bound lanes of Parkes Way. It would patently be inferior to current arrangements, and would confer no benefits.

Given that it would also come at huge cost and disruption, it begs the question that the reason for doing it must be clearly demonstrated. The three contributors to this are:
* The case for access to Commonwealth Park by light rail versus other options such as electric buses;
*The case for access to Woden by light rail versus other options such as electric buses (noting the Auditor General's conclusion earlier this year that the case had not been made);
* The case for making the land within the existing clover leafs available for development.
Unless and until the economics of these three elements have been demonstrated, approval of the work to raise London Circuit should not be given. This will ensure that Canberra is not saddled with an expensive, disruptive and unnecessary mistake that is inconsistent with the NCA's charter to uphold the quality and standard of development in the National Capital.