Parliamentary triangle workers would be able to park for free near Kingston then catch shuttle buses to their offices, under a proposal by the public service union.
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As part of a plan to help its members avoid having to pay for parking in the parliamentary zone, the Community and Public Sector Union has called for the introduction of a park-and-ride facility and free or subsidised buses.
Vince McDevitt, ACT regional director of the CPSU, said some of the $73.3 million that would be raised over three years through the introduction of paid parking in Parkes, Barton and Russell should go towards establishing additional park-and-ride facilities.
"Park-and-ride facilities should be provided outside but nearby the precinct,'' Mr McDevitt said in a pre-budget submission to the ACT government.
"The ACT government should construct a 500-bay park and ride area between Kingston and Queanbeyan, for example, near Canberra railway station.''
Free or low-cost shuttles would run back and forth from the parliamentary zone every 15 minutes during peak hours to cater for workers with family and caring responsibilities.
Mr McDevitt said the service would encourage more Canberrans to use public transport.
The union also called for the establishment of co-located, subsidised childcare centres in all ACT government offices with 500 or more employees.
The government is already planning to include a childcare centre in its new Gungahlin office block.
''Providing subsidised childcare at the place of work will help improve participation and retention rates among women,'' Mr McDevitt said.
In another pre-budget submission to the ACT government, the Property Council called for tax changes and the establishment of a Civic Development Authority.
The Property Council said the government should reduce the tax burden on the property industry and abolish the fire and
emergency services levy. The council also cautioned the government against increasing general rates to compensate for stamp duty reductions.
It said a new authority should be established to prepare, monitor and routinely review the city plan.
"This should ensure that the plan materialises, that consultation is meaningful and implementation is rational and timely,'' the Property Council said in its submission.
Industry group the Tourism & Transport Forum called on the government to explore opportunities to tender competitively or ''franchise'' the operation of ACTION buses.
The forum called for the maintenance in real terms of government funding for tourism and major events and backed the development of the proposed Civic stadium.
It urged the government to continue funding a marketing campaign to support direct international flights to Canberra.
Lobby group Pedal Power urged the government to establish a "capital cycling agency''.
The agency would be led by a cycling advocate, drive city-wide improvements in cycling facilities, and promote bicycle use.
