Page 2821 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 11 October 2022
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The infrastructure plan update will also outline the government’s future investments in new and better schools. From pre-school through to tertiary education, this government will prioritise investment in quality public education.
The government is also delivering its vision for a more a connected Canberra, where residents can easily access more transport options, whether that is through active travel, walking and cycling, or through public transport, buses and light rail, or through private car usage. As our city continues to grow, it is important that our transport infrastructure keeps up with that growth. The updated infrastructure plan will outline how the government is planning to support Canberra with more than half a million people through a more sustainable transport network.
As has been amply considered through many elections, light rail is part of the government’s transport infrastructure agenda. We promised, and we delivered, light rail from Gungahlin to the city. Now we are getting on with extending the network south.
Alongside light rail, though, we are also increasing our fleet of electric buses. It is possible to do both. We are also incentivising the take-up of electric vehicles, and we are rolling out more EV charging stations across the city.
Enlivening our local group and town centres is just one way that the government is planning for Canberra’s future in a smart and sustainable way. As our population continues to increase, we will need to ensure that our planning system supports the pathway of gentle urbanism to meet that population growth. That is why Minister Gentleman has introduced a comprehensive new planning bill, and we will soon be consulting on a new territory plan and district strategies.
We understand that housing affordability is a challenge across Australia, including here in the territory. Tackling these issues are a national responsibility, requiring broad reform. However, we are taking steps to deliver more diverse and affordable housing options across the territory so Canberrans can find a home that suits their life stage and their circumstance.
To put some numbers on this, we are preparing for an increase of 30,000 dwellings in the territory over the next five years. So we will go from around 180,000 dwellings in Canberra to 210,000. Noting the existing housing stock, what is already built and then what is in this forward pipeline, around two-thirds of those 210,000 dwellings will be detached houses on single blocks. A mix of housing options is the only way to address the needs of a diverse community and support a growing population.
This year’s budget invests further in the growing and renewing public housing program, to expand that program by a further 140 dwellings as well as an additional investment in public housing maintenance and repairs. We are also supporting more build-to-rent projects and will be pursuing institutional investment over the coming years with the release of our build-to-rent investment prospectus.
The government is also focused on ensuring that Canberra continues to be a city where everyone in the community feels safe and accepted and can thrive. We cannot, and we should not, take this for granted. Embedding a culture of inclusiveness takes
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