Federal budget 2021: Pialligo businesses bank on budget boost for Beltana Road

The Commonwealth has announced it will contribute $2.5 million of the ACT government's $5 million 2020 allocation, ahead of Treasurer Josh Frydenberg's federal budget on Tuesday.

Currently in the design process, the Pialligo upgrade will improve access and safety of the district, with dedicated parking and footpaths.

Tara Estate Pet Boarding manager Charlie Dimoff said more car spaces was absolutely essential for the boutique shopping district, especially on the weekends.

The doggy daycare centre on Beltana Road averages around 70 canines each day, which means easy access to the burgeoning business was essential, Mr Dimoff said.

"It's a pretty narrow road and cars tend to line either side, they tend to stick out onto the road which slows traffic for everyone," he said.

"It's also pretty unsafe for pedestrians because there's no legitimate pathway for people to walk through."

Mr Dimoff said he'd seen plenty of near misses in the short time the business had been there, which was of particular concern for them as they had pet owners walking animals in.

He said the priority was for the works to be done quickly to minimise the disruption to trade.

Pialligo Residents' Association President Bob Ross said the upgrades had been a long time coming.

"Roads in Pialligo have been a major issue going back a long, long time," Mr Ross said.

He said the suburb was originally set up as just a two street agricultural area, but times had changed.

"It's a very busy suburb now with a lot of trucks coming to and fro and a lot of traffic on the weekends," Mr Ross said.

"It's becoming extremely difficult for everybody to be able to use the road in the way it should be used.

"When there's something happening here on the weekends the traffic can be so lengthy in the streets that it's very hard for anybody to get around.

"The traffic lights have never been adjusted so about three cars get through in one go. You might be there for 15 minutes trying to get through the traffic lights."

Mr Ross said businesses and residents would soon be able to have their say on the proposed design of Beltana Road and 200 metres into Kallaroo Road.

As previously flagged by the government, a new left-in, left-out intersection will be constructed for Beltana Road, Kallaroo Road and Pialligo Avenue.

Mr Ross said the upgrade would benefit all Canberrans, not just Pialligo residents.

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"It used to be the food bowl of the city and it's certainly still a rural place where many people who don't live here like to come and wander around on the weekend," he said.

The infrastructure funding was part of a federal package announced this week which will also include $26.5 million to duplicate the remaining sections of William Hovell Drive and an additional $5 million for Gundaroo Drive Duplication.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said the "substantial injection" was a key plank of the government's plan to recover from the COVID-19 downturn.

"We are investing and we are working with both territories and all states to make sure that, right across the nation, the budget is supporting an additional 30,000 workers," Mr McCormack said.

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