Developers will not need to pay a daily fee when they block footpaths around their building sites for another year, in a move advocates say frustrates active travel and encourages walkers back into their cars.
But more than 70 event organisers will receive refunds after a fee, dubbed a "barbecue tax" by the opposition, was dropped after the government acknowledged it was an unintended consequence of the new rules issued under its Public Unleased Land Act.
However, Kurrajong independent Thomas Emerson sought to have the delay to the daily footpath obstruction fees reversed in a Legislative Assembly vote on Thursday. Mr Emerson's motion was defeated.
"Is this a disappointing case of the government committing to something a little bit more ambitious, something I and many others had applauded, but then backflipping because of pushback?" Mr Emerson said.
Read the article here: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/9069621/canberra-delays-footpath-closure-fees-for-developers/