People who attended last night's public meeting about the proposed $250 million Majura Parkway described the ACT Government's consultation on the project as ''wanting''.
They questioned why the prospect of a very high speed train described by people at the meeting as ''mythical'' and ''whimsical'' was being allowed to dictate the alignment of the road to the detriment of other interests.
Roads ACT director Tony Gill told the meeting of about 50 people that while the Federal Government had given $30 million for the first stage of the proposed road, he did not expect it to hand over the remaining $220 million for another five years.
Roads ACT is the proponent of the proposed 11.5km, four-lane road slated to be built west of Majura Road, linking the Federal Highway and the Monaro Highway.
While the Government says it has consulted with leaseholders along the route and other groups, those at the meeting said the consultation should have been broader and taken place before a preferred alignment was identified. Last night's meeting only came about from a request by the North Canberra Community Council less than a week before public comments on a draft environmental impact statement on the parkway close on Monday.
Full report in today's Canberra Times