Residents demand answers as Canberra considers $180m Gungahlin transport overhaul

Residents across Canberra's fastest-growing region are making their concerns heard as the ACT Government prepares to vote on a contentious $180 million transport and infrastructure package aimed at servicing Gungahlin's surging population.

The proposal, to be debated at next month's Legislative Assembly sitting, would reshape bus routes serving suburbs including Harrison, Casey, and Ngunnawal, while simultaneously redirecting $47 million toward expanded cycling networks along Aspinall Street and the Barton Highway corridor.

At a community forum held last week at the Gungahlin Community Centre, resident perspectives revealed deep divisions. Sarah Chen, a Harrison parent who uses the 10 and 56 bus routes daily to reach her workplace in Belconnen, expressed frustration about the proposed 15-minute frequency reduction on evening services. "My partner finishes at 5:30pm, and with two kids in after-school care at Nicholson Primary, we're already stretched thin," she told The Daily Canberra. "These changes would cost us an extra $120 a week in taxi fares."

However, not all feedback was negative. Marcus Webb, a sustainability consultant based in Ngunnawal, welcomed the cycling infrastructure investment. "Gungahlin has grown by 23 per cent in five years, but our active transport options haven't kept pace," he said. "If the council is serious about emissions reduction targets, this is overdue."

The local business community remains split. The Gungahlin District Business Association expressed concerns about reduced bus access affecting foot traffic to retailers along Hibberson Street, while several small enterprises supported the cycling investment, citing increased patronage from bike commuters in similar Canberra precincts.

ACT Greens representative for Kurrajong Mick Gentleman acknowledged the tension at a recent community meeting. "We're hearing legitimate concerns from all sides—parents worried about transport reliability, cyclists celebrating better infrastructure, and businesses navigating change," he observed.

Accessibility advocates raised additional concerns about the impacts on elderly residents in the region. Betty Torres, who coordinates volunteer transport for seniors through Gungahlin Community Services, noted that service reductions could disproportionately affect vulnerable populations with limited digital literacy for alternative booking systems.

The government's formal consultation period closes 15 July. Community members can submit written responses via the ACT Legislative Assembly website or attend one of three additional public sessions scheduled for early July across Gungahlin suburbs.

Officials estimate the full rollout would take 18 months, with staged implementation beginning January 2027.

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