Page 3193 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 18 October 2022
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West, so that, during the construction period, buses can access the city interchange. When the project is completed, it will connect the City Centre to the lake, unlocking new opportunities for land use, improving active travel connections and creating a high-quality, attractive and functional public space around the new intersection.
The government’s commitment to light rail is not only an investment in better public transport in our city but also an important investment in mass transit for a growing city. We found out from the census in 2021, released this year, that we are seeing more people live in our city. It is important that we have those options.
We have seen with the first stage an incredibly successful result. We want to build on those benefits and extend those benefits to other parts of the city. It is a project that is going to create thousands of jobs. It is showcasing our city as a modern and sustainable place to live with good public transport connections, and it has city-shaping benefits. We want to see those benefits extended south of the lake as well.
I will address some of the issues that Mr Parton raised. We are getting on with the project. Work is happening. It is undeniable that work is happening on the project, managed by Major Projects Canberra and funded continually through the budget. We have shown an unparalleled level of transparency in relation to both stage 1 of the project and stage 2. We have released the business case for stage 2A.
We have released the net present value figures to the Auditor-General as part of their review, and we continue to release the signed contracts, including the most recent contract that we have signed for the raising of London Circuit and the most recent contract that we have signed with Canberra Metro for the supply of five new light rail vehicles, retrofitting the existing 14 and extending the depot. That is available on the contracts register. Have a look at it. The dollars are there, and the detail of what is being provided is in there.
We are continuing to go through the procurement process for stage 2A. We are looking forward to that being signed, hopefully, next year. And, again, we will publish the details on the current contract register for the public to see. We are going through the processes of government to get on and deliver that project, and we will continue to plan for stage 2B.
On raising London Circuit, we have said very clearly to the public and the media that this will take around two years to complete, after which stage 2A works will begin. The work on the light rail vehicles and the order there is clear in the contract as well. We are expecting that it will take around four years for the retrofit of the 14 vehicles. So that gives you a sense of timing. We will, of course, confirm the 2A design and construction through the procurement process, which is underway with Canberra Metro.
We have been very clear that we support this. The only thing that is unclear is what the Canberra Liberals position actually is on light rail. We saw them put out a media alert about an event that was supposedly going to happen—apparently, it coincided with the day that the Queen passed away—and then, suddenly, the media event was pulled. We have not heard anything from the Canberra Liberals since about their announcement, which was apparently associated with light rail.
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