As Canberrans across the city discuss the pros and cons of light rail, the ACT's community councils have stepped back from the debate with the majority neutral on the multimillion-dollar project.
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Community councils across the ACT are divided on the issue of light rail in Canberra, with only one in favour, two against and four others neutral.
Gungahlin Community Council endorsed the Capital Metro project while Canberra's southernmost councils of Weston Creek and Tuggeranong were vehemently opposed.
Belconnen, Woden and the Inner North and South community councils remain on the fence, although at least two have some concerns about the light rail project.
Weston Creek Community Council chairman Tom Anderson said his residents didn't have an adequate bus service yet and were unhappy they were being asked to pay for improved public transport across town.
"I think it's the wrong time, and I think it's the wrong line," he said. "And I don't know when we would ever expect to get the light rail into Weston Creek."
Mr Anderson said the light rail had pitted the north side against the south side of Canberra. "When we look at what's happening in Canberra, at the present time there's a lot of emphasis on the city," he said.
"Basically there's been no government focus on this side of the lake for a while. I call it a tale of two cities - you have the tale of the city and the inner north, and basically the tale of the rest of Canberra."
But Gungahlin Community Council vice-president Peter Elford said the case for light rail had been made strongly by the government and 75 per cent of residents in his area were in support of the project.
"I would be thinking pretty positively if I was [other councils] about how I can make sure if I'm in Weston, or Woden, or Tuggeranong, how do I make sure I'm part of this opportunity in future phases?" he said.
"It won't stop in Gungahlin."
Inner South Community Council president Gary Kent said his members would not be taking a position on light rail as they would be trying to get the most from the Capital Metro project for the inner south.
But he said the council was concerned about the ACT government's decision to bypass the standard planning process to build the new tram, an opinion echoed by other neutral community councils.
"We don't believe that the light rail should proceed at the expense of proper planning arrangements," he said.
"We would hate to think if the light rail came to the inner south the new planning arrangement would mean vast swaths of our part of Canberra are impacted by light rail, at the expense of our heritage."
