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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 5 Hansard (4 May) . . Page.. 1315 ..

MS CARNELL (continuing):

This budget also marks major changes to the management and operation of public housing in Canberra. The eligibility and tenure criteria have been completely overhauled to ensure that, from 1 July this year, Canberrans who are most in need will receive priority assistance. We are determined to ensure that under this Government more low-income earners will be able to access housing faster. To this end, the Government will also aim to transfer responsibility for another 800 dwellings to the community sector over the next five years, bringing to 1,000 the total number under community management.

These changes, which are detailed in the budget papers, are accompanied by an increase of almost $8m in spending on the refurbishment and construction of new dwellings. The Government is painfully aware that our current stock of housing does not adequately meet the changed profile and needs of today's tenants. An additional 74 units suitable for older persons will be built over the next 12 months as part of our promise to provide 200 new units over three years. The ageing Lachlan Court complex at Barton will be sold and the proceeds will be used to upgrade Burnie Court at Lyons and to purchase more suitable replacement dwellings.

Mr Speaker, this Government is conscious of the need to promote not only a sustainable budget surplus but also the sustainable development of the Territory. To support the ACT's greenhouse gas reduction strategy, funding of $340,000 will be invested in a range of measures designed to reduce energy usage. These measures include a pilot subsidy program for water-efficient shower heads, extension of the Energy Advisory Service, the collection of emissions inventory data and a pilot public housing retrofit program to reduce energy consumption in up to 500 homes. The ACT will also commit an additional $100,000 to enable the production of the year 2000 State of the Environment Report. It is worth noting, too, that funding for the construction of new bike paths and repairs to existing routes has been increased to $660,000 in this budget, a record amount.

From December, a new water abstraction charge will be introduced to reflect the full cost of water supply and to encourage Canberrans to conserve one of our most precious resources. The Assembly has already passed the relevant legislation. In line with the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Commissioner's recommendation, the charge will be applied at the rate of 10c per kilolitre. For an average Canberra household, this will result in an increase of approximately $30 a year or about 60c a week - the cost of a packet of Fruit Tingles. We need to have something to eat later! Mr Speaker, it will still mean that Canberrans will be paying much less than residents of other major Australian cities for their water.

Mr Speaker, while this Government has already announced new moneys totalling $1.3m under the streetsmart program to improve the appearance of Canberra's urban areas, we have decided to allocate an additional $1m in 1999-2000 to help clean up our city. On top of this, the next stage of our precinct management program will see $2.1m spent on improving public areas in Charnwood, Dickson, Hall, Kingston, Kippax, Manuka and Weston Creek.

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