Canberrans have fully embraced Fix My Street, an online tool developed by the ACT Government as a way for members of the public to report fallen trees, potholes, illegal dumping, out of order streetlights and other issues spotted about town.
Close to 45,000 requests were logged in the last 12 months, an average of over 850 per week, according to an ACT Government spokesperson.
The five most common requests related to roads, flora, footpaths, streetlights and public spaces like parks.
A spokesperson said requests were triaged with public safety as the highest priority.
The most urgent matters are reports of sharps, line-of-sight issues on roadsides, fallen trees, traffic signal faults, road safety, and path trip hazards.
“Where issues are not urgent, they may be placed on a program of works to enable them to be addressed efficiently – for example, path replacement and asphalt works,” the spokesperson said.
This means some requests will have much longer wait times than others.
“For example, amenity pruning of trees may be delayed to respond to tree damage caused by storm events.”
The public may also use Fix My Street to make requests that don’t concern a tradesman, for example, to suggest the perfect spot for a mobile speed camera or to raise road safety and traffic concerns.
As well drawing attention to things that need fixing, Canberrans may use the service to request new additions to their streetscape.
“Requests vary significantly in their complexity and some requests – such as for upgrades to the public realm – may require a long lead time to be addressed and in some cases require Capital Funding through Budget bids.”
The more specific a report, the better; staff must be able to identify the exact location of a reported issue in order to assess and schedule the next steps.
An interactive map allows users to see outstanding requests by searching for a specific suburb.
Newcomers to Canberra can use Fix My Street to learn which day of the week garbage, recycling and greenwaste bins are collected in their neck of the woods.
Work will soon be underway on the popular website itself, with the ACT Government currently reviewing the design of Fix My Street in response to community feedback and through the transition to a new digital platform to improve user experience.
How to use Fix My Street
- When you notice an issue that requires attention on a Canberra street, the first step is to take a photo
- Make note of the precise location, address and any other identifying features
- Fill out a Fix My Street form online
- If you provide your contact details, you will receive updates about your claim’s progress
Have you used Fix My Street? Please share your experience in the comments.
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