Page 3006 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 14 September 1993
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New child-care centres will be built in Tuggeranong and Weston Creek at a cost of $1.2m. Improvements to public transport infrastructure will cost $3.75m. Nearly $22m has been approved for the building of a preschool and primary school in Gungahlin, the Lanyon High School, and refurbishing present school facilities. Works totalling $12m for an upgrade to the Playhouse and for a cultural and heritage centre are planned through funds made available from the casino premium.
Madam Speaker, in 1993-94 the Housing Trust will provide 1,800 new public housing allocations to families and single people on the rental waiting list and rent relief to 2,000 families or individuals renting on the private market. We continue to target assistance to those most in need. In 1993-94 the proportion of public tenants entitled to rental rebate assistance is expected to increase to 85 per cent. As the cost of rental rebates increases, the Government has been conscious of the need to ensure that the income from rents remains sufficient to meet the costs of managing the stock of rental properties. Our response includes reducing Housing Trust administration costs and improvements such as better arrears management and shorter vacancy turnaround times.
The Government has also reached the conclusion that an increase in rent contributions by public tenants is unavoidable. In 1993-94 the base rent level will be increased from 20 to 21 per cent of gross household income, with a sliding scale increasing with household income to a cap of 24 per cent. The base level will increase again to 22 per cent in 1994-95 and the cap to 25 per cent. Steps have also been taken to contain the growth in expenditure on private rent relief and to complement this assistance with support provided by the Commonwealth. Existing recipients will not suffer any reduction in assistance as a result of these changes.
The construction program will provide 131 new dwelling commencements this year and 173 completions for rental housing. This will be supplemented by the construction of 50 houses for direct sale to public tenants and applicants on the home loan waiting list. The budget also introduces new home loan programs aimed at providing more ownership opportunities to existing public tenants, low income earners and first home buyers.
Madam Speaker, the protection of our physical environment for future generations is a high priority for this Government. Following public consultation, the Government will introduce endangered species legislation into the Assembly. Work will commence on a Territory-wide flora and fauna conservation strategy. A scientific advisory committee will be established to advise on the conservation of species and ecological communities. Our national parks and nature reserves are invaluable natural assets. We will develop a marketing strategy, in consultation with all interested parties, designed to maximise the potential for ecotourism in harmony with protection of the environment and water catchment areas. Development of walking trails in the Ororral Valley has been included in the capital works program.
As a step to meeting the 1996 international standards for the use of ozone depleting chemicals, three large government air-conditioning chillers which use CFCs will be replaced. Following successful trials in three suburbs, we will bring forward a waste management strategy addressing the Territory's future garbage collection and recycling operation. To encourage maximum use
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