The ACT government has defended a decision not to provide an ACTION bus service to the Canberra Airport terminal after the issue was raised at several community council meetings.
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Minister assisting the Chief Minister on Transport Reform Shane Rattenbury said the government had discussed an ACTION bus service with Canberra Airport but due to a private operator there was no plan to establish a service in the immediate future.
The privately operated mini-bus ferries passengers from the airport terminal to the city about once an hour.
A one-way ticket costs $12.
Mr Rattenbury said ACTION provided services to the Canberra Airport precinct, including to Brindabella Business Park, Majura Park and Fairbairn Park.
"A bus stop is located approximately 500 metres from the airport terminal," he said.
Although Mr Rattenbury said there were no plans to service the terminal in the "immediate future", airport representatives expressed different ideas.
Canberra Airport manager of planning and environment Kathryn Scarano said the airport and the ACT government had discussed a bus route for the terminal during the Network 14 planning.
"Network 2014 came in six months ago and it was on the cards for that, it was discussed for that and it is not far off," she said.
"We are in discussion with each other about it."
Mr Rattenbury said the ACT government had held discussions with the airport for at least the past two years about potential ACTION services.
He said depending on the bus route minor modifications could be required to street furniture at the airport, at a minor cost to the government.
Ms Scarano said three community councils – Tuggeranong, Gungahlin and North Canberra – had brought the public transport issue to their attention.
North Canberra Community Council chairman Mike Hettinger said a number of members had expressed concern about the lack of service from ACTION to the airport.
He said the issue would be listed on the council's agenda for further discussion.
Canberra Airport planning and government relations director Noel McCann said rumours the airport was charging ACTION to service Brindabella Business Park were not true.
He said there would be no charge if ACTION decided to provide a service at the Canberra Airport terminal.
More than 15 years ago a bus service was trialled to the old airport terminal for a short period at the commencement of Network 98.
