The Transport Canberra and City Services Directorate (TCCS) has increased its street sweeping and streetlight maintenance programs and is to plant more than 400 new trees over autumn.
The Directorate is also gearing up to strengthen its enforcement of regulations on Canberrans doing the wrong thing.
Announcing the measures the Minister for City Services, Chris Steel promised cleaner streets, a quicker response to streetlight outages, more trees being planted, more waste collection services — and a crackdown on irresponsible dog owners.
Mr Steel said improved technology, revised crewing and a move to split-shifts meant crews were operating street-sweepers for longer and with better results, while the delivery of streetlight maintenance through a new contract meant streetlights were more efficient and more reliable.
He said however, there were some people consistently doing the wrong thing by the community and they would be brought to book.
“So alongside our investment in more city services we will create a new team to step up the enforcement of laws which make Canberra safe and liveable,” Mr Steel said
“Irresponsible dog owners, illegal dumping, tree damage, verge maintenance, moveable signs and the use of public land will be the focus of the new engagement and compliance program.”
He said the new compliance and engagement team would provide extra teeth for the existing licensing and compliance area.
“If you don’t do the right thing you are at risk of receiving an on-the-spot fine,” Mr Steel said.
He said TCCS would recruit and train new staff members with the program ramping up to full operations in June.
“The six-member compliance team is in addition to Domestic Animal Services (which has already doubled in staff to 16) and is also in addition to the four-member investigations team which deals with more complex regulatory compliance,” Mr Steel said.
“The increased focus on enforcement will be supported by a public engagement campaign to inform the community of the current focus area and further educate them on their responsibilities,” he said.
