Page 1061 - Week 04 - Thursday, 22 April 2021
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
Stage 2A of the light rail network from the city to Commonwealth Park has been assessed and approved by the commonwealth through the parliamentary and preliminary documentation referral pathway under the EPBC act. The next steps are to obtain the required planning approvals, including a territory development approval and the National Capital Authority works approval, and then commence the procurement and construction for the project.
The first major physical works to be undertaken will be the raising of London Circuit to form a level intersection with Commonwealth Avenue, an important enabling investment delivered through this budget. We are working towards construction contracts being signed for these works later in 2021, depending on the commonwealth planning approval processes and procurement processes. We are delivering this as a separate package of works to the main build of stage 2A to enable local industry to participate in the delivery of this important project.
As well as getting work underway on raising London Circuit and procuring a construction partner for stage 2A, we are also looking at the other end of the route and planning for the infrastructure that we need when it gets to Woden. We are building a brand new, light rail-ready transport interchange at Woden to be integrated with the new CIT campus. The development application for the interchange is currently being considered by the independent ACT Planning and Land Authority, following extensive pre-DA consultation with the local community and an extended public notification period. Once the DA is approved, construction on the interchange will commence early in the second half of this year.
This budget has also provided the resources to undertake a feasibility study on the viability of extending light rail to Mawson as part of the work on light rail stage 2. We are keen to understand the feasibility and benefits associated with taking light rail further south as parts of the Woden Valley continue to grow and densify. This work will complement work underway within Transport Canberra and City Services to assess the feasibility of introducing express light rail services during peak hours.
The work Major Projects Canberra is delivering at Woden is about much more than new transport infrastructure. Our government is also getting on with delivering a new state-of-the-art Canberra Institute of Technology campus right in the heart of the Woden town centre. This purpose-built campus will support 6,500 vocational education and training students a year, with the campus having a focus on in-demand future skills, like cyber, health care and IT. It will incorporate smart campus technology, linking a digitally enabled building with digital learning and management systems to better deliver teaching and learning experiences.
Major Projects Canberra are working very closely with CIT to design this new campus and to ensure that it meets the needs of future students as well as the Woden community. It has been great to see the strong involvement by Woden residents in the early design consultation, and this is already driving really productive conversations about issues like green space, traffic connectivity and how the campus connects with the rest of the Woden town centre.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video