Red Hill Improvement PlanIELTS Listening Practice Test with Answers

Good morning and welcome again to your city today. With me today is Graham Campbell, a Councilor from the City Council. He will be telling us about the plan to improve the fast growing suburb of Red Hill. Good morning Graham and welcome to the show.

Good morning Carol.

Now Graham, I understand that there has been a lot of community consultation for the new plan.

Yes, we have tried to address some of the concerns that local groups told us about. People we have heard from are mainly worried about traffic in the area and in particular the increasing speed of cars near schools. They feel that it is only a matter of time before there is an accident as a lot of children walk to the school.

So we are trying to do something about that. Another area of concern is the overhead power lines. These are very old and a lot of people we spoke to asked if something could be done about them. Well, I am happy to report that the power company have agreed to move the power lines underground at a cost of $800,000. I think that will really improve the look of the area as well as being safer.

That is good to know. But will that mean an increase in rates for the local businesses in that area?

Well, the power company have agreed to bear the cost of this themselves after a lot of discussion with the council. This is wonderful news as the council now has some extra funds for us to put into other things like tree planting and artwork.

Now, we have also put together a map which is sent out to all the residents in the area. And on the map we have marked proposed changes. Firstly, we will plant mature pine trees to provide shelter and shade just to the right of the supermarket in day's road.

In order to address the traffic problems, the pavements on the corner of Carbury and Thomas Street will be widened. This will help to reduce the speed of vehicles entering Thomas Street. We think it is very important to separate the local residential streets from the main road. The road where the entrance to Thomas Street from day's road will be painted red. This should mark it more clearly and act as a signal for traffic to slow down.

One way of making sure that the pedestrians are safe is to increase signage at the intersections. A key clear sign will be erected at the junction of Evelyn Street and Hill Street to enable traffic to exit at all times. Something we are planning to do to help control the flow of traffic in the area is to install traffic lights halfway down Hill Street where it crosses day's road.

Now, we haven't only thought about the cars and traffic of course, there is also something for the children. We are going to get school children in the area to research a local story, the life of a local sports hero perhaps. And an artist will incorporate that story into paintings on the wall of a building on the other side of Hill Street from the supermarket. And finally, we have agreed to build a new children's playground which will be at the other end of Hill Street close to the intersection with Carbury Street.

Wonderful. Now, what is the next stage?

Well, the final plan.