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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 1 Hansard (28 April) . . Page.. 110 ..

Mr Humphries: How do you know that?

MR CORBELL: Because that is what your officers have told me, Mr Humphries. It is quite clear that the Government does have an opportunity to revise some of its programming in the capital works budget so that provision can be made for the development of this road in the coming financial year. It would be a significant transport link between Palmerston and the town centre and would certainly make the town centre itself a more viable and effective area for people to shop and to use if they were able to connect directly. I would urge the Government to seriously consider this proposal. The future of the development of Gungahlin at the moment is an issue of great concern to the people who live there, and I think they would want to see an effective transport link in place before that facility opens or, if that is not now possible, certainly as soon as it can reasonably be done.

Mr Speaker, on a final note: The Gungahlin Development Authority currently has responsibility for the development of this area, but the Gungahlin Development Authority has informed me that it has no available funds for the development of Southern Boulevard. I find that concerning. I find it concerning that the provision of what most people in our community would regard as basic community infrastructure is not able to be funded because the Gungahlin Development Authority itself has not been able to raise funds through land sales and other sources of revenue, as it is required to do under its Act. So, Mr Speaker, I would urge the Government to seriously consider the provision of Southern Boulevard in the coming financial year - certainly, no later than the year after that town centre opens - because it will be an important link. Without it, there will be significant traffic problems into the town centre. Indeed, I would argue that it will be a disincentive for many people in Gungahlin to use that town centre marketplace area.

MR HIRD (5.29): Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the house that, at a recent auction undertaken by Urban Services, a site for a motel convention centre in Belconnen, in close proximity to what are known as the Belconnen fruit and vegetable markets, was sold. It is adjacent to Benjamin Way and Belconnen Way. The bed capacity of the motel convention centre is 50, which raises the capacity for the 100,000 population in the Belconnen-Hall area to approximately 140. I note that Tuggeranong, in the electorate of Brindabella, has a motel which has 160 beds. The information I am bringing to members is the fact that the AHA, the Australian Hotels Association, have taken a particular interest in this project. I wonder why.

MR SPEAKER: Order! It being 5.30 pm, in accordance with standing order 34, the Assembly stands adjourned.

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