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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 6 Hansard (23 May) . . Page.. 1587 ..
- $2 million over two years to fund important improvements at Forrest and North Ainslie primary schools.
Mr Speaker, I am also pleased to announce a funding boost of $1.1 million for non-government schools in Canberra, on top of the $2.2 million announced in the federal budget. This increase takes the funding of non-government schools in 2000-2001 to a record $86.5 million.
The government's support for young people and their development does not end when they walk out the school door. A number of new initiatives, particularly supporting children at risk, will be developed during this budget period.
To complement the autism carer's program I announced earlier, $50,000 will extend services for primary-school age children with autism to facilitate their integration into school communities. We will make $200,000 available each year to enable the Department of Education and Community Services to meet the rising costs of providing the special needs transportation service so that there is no additional call on parents and carers to continue that service. The community services grants program will be boosted by $200,000 per year to allow for the provision of greater levels of support.
The Lanyon Youth Centre is scheduled for completion early in 2001, and $332,000 over four years will be made available to operate it through the youth services grants scheme. It will particularly target outreach, support and social services for young people in the Lanyon Valley area. On top of these initiatives, the portfolio will also manage a number of initiatives in the Canberra: Building Social Capital program.
Mr Speaker, the budget also includes some important initiatives designed to strengthen Canberra's national and international reputation as Australia's sporting capital. Perhaps most exciting is the inclusion of a $1.7 million capital grant to Tennis ACT for the construction of a new 20-court international-standard clay court and rebound ace tennis facility at the National Sports Club, Lyneham. As a direct result, Tennis ACT has announced that Canberra has been chosen to host three new international tennis tournaments, two of them on the proposed new clay court facilities, the other on a world-class rebound ace surface.
This budget also confirms our commitment to community and local sports, with $2.8 million to construct a new playing field and pavilion at Amaroo, and a further $900,000 for a sportsground improvement program for the territory.
Urban Services
Mr Speaker, urban services are also well treated in the budget. The people of Gungahlin will be pleased with the news that the federal government is to bring forward the $12.3 million duplication of the Barton Highway between Bellenden Street and the
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