{date}
Dear [Government Official’s Name/Title],
I am writing to express concern about the closure of the London Circuit car park for Lyric Theatre construction. While I support the development of enhanced creative arts facilities in Canberra, the loss of this essential parking infrastructure has imposed significant and avoidable hardships on our community. I urge you to address the following key issues and take prompt action to reinstate access to this vital resource.
1. Accessibility and Inclusion
The closure has disrupted access for residents, workers, and visitors, particularly those attending nearby health services or essential amenities. For people with mobility challenges—and for others carrying out daily tasks—the absence of convenient parking has created real barriers to employment, medical appointments, and routine city activities. Parking further away worsens these challenges and raises safety concerns, as longer walks through less familiar or poorly lit areas increase personal risk.
2. Community Safety and Wellbeing
Reduced access has unintentionally made nearby areas feel less safe and welcoming. Lower foot traffic often discourages community use and impacts overall wellbeing. Canberra’s city centre should remain vibrant and inclusive, not limited by avoidable infrastructure decisions.
3. Local Business Viability
Businesses that provide critical services are facing reduced foot traffic and operational difficulties. For many, this directly affects their ability to remain viable during ongoing city developments.
Compounding these concerns are concurrent projects such as Stage 2 of the light rail and the upcoming closure of the Law Courts car park at Northbourne Avenue and London Circuit. Together, these overlapping works have severely reduced parking availability, affecting families, workers, and people with time-sensitive needs. For instance, the walk from Canberra Centre to London Circuit now takes seven to ten minutes—an untenable distance for many, especially in poor weather or for those with health considerations.
It is also unclear whether adequate public consultation occurred before this closure. If consultation did take place, many residents were unaware or unable to contribute. This lack of transparency has eroded public trust and excluded legitimate community concerns from the planning process.
In light of these issues, I respectfully request that the ACT Government prioritise the reopening of the London Circuit car park as soon as feasible—either through temporary relocation of construction activities or alternative site management. Canberra deserves development that balances progress with practicality, ensuring our city remains accessible, inclusive, and economically vibrant.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your response and a transparent plan to restore parking access in the city centre.
Sincerely,
Name: {name}
Suburb: {suburb}
Email: {email}