Statement pursuant to Standing Order 246A

Mr Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 246A, I wish to make a statement on behalf of the Standing Committee on Environment and Planning in relation to E-PET-024-26 and PET-061-26 concerning access to general traffic in CIT Plaza in the Woden Town Centre.

These petitions were referred to the Environment and Planning Committee on 12 June 2026 and relate to concerns about the ACT Government’s plan to allow general traffic to move through the West (CIT) Plaza in the Woden Town Centre.

The petitioners called for the continued restriction of through-traffic in the CIT Plaza to preserve the value of the space for hosting social activities, events and gatherings.

Having carefully considered the petitions and the ACT Government’s response, the Committee has resolved not to conduct a formal inquiry into the matter.

The Committee notes that it is currently undertaking an Inquiry into the Role and Future of the Woden Town Centre in the context of a compact city, through which it has received evidence on a wide range of issues affecting the town centre, including on the future of CIT Plaza. In light of this ongoing work, the Committee considers that a separate inquiry into this matter could be duplicative and is therefore not warranted at this time.