Page 4950 - Week 15 - Thursday, 15 December 2005
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
already committed $6 million for this assessment—for the planning and designing of such a system.
Other improvements proposed and about to be implemented are real-time information systems that make public transport systems highly reliable, reduce uncertainty and provide opportunities for smart planning of public transport operations. The amount of $6.76 million has been set aside for the implementation and tenders are currently being evaluated.
Walking and cycling are also being encouraged. We have developed a 10-year master plan for trunk cycling and walking path infrastructure. The master plan has been funded since its release last year infrastructure and improvements of more than $1 million have already been undertaken. Another key policy to support the achievement of the plan is the implementation of TravelSmart programs that have proved to be very successful in encouraging walking, cycling and use of public transport. Our program will target over 10,000 households, 13,000 employees and 25 schools and will be undertaken in consultation and association with the Australian Greenhouse Office.
The government’s view is that we are well placed to respond to these challenges. Within the territory we have a government committed to the principles of sustainability and to making Canberra a great place to live, work and play. We have a well-informed, interested and active community. We have some of the world’s best research organisations on our doorstep and we have a location that is second to none. We have the opportunity, the capacity and the willingness to face these challenges. We have the strategies in place to start making it happen and our strategies are already demonstrating tangible results.
There is much more work to be done. Our targets in relation to modal split for transport use are challenging but I believe we have taken the first vital steps in addressing this challenge if we are to ensure our city can manage the shocks that will come from the increased costs of conventional oil supplies into the future.
MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Gentleman): The discussion is concluded.
Leave of absence
Motion (by Mr Corbell) agreed to:
That leave of absence from 16 December 2005 to 13 February 2006 inclusive be given to all members.
Suspension of standing orders—adjournment debate
Motion (by Ms MacDonald) agreed to, with the concurrence of an absolute majority:
That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the adjournment debate for today continuing past 30 minutes.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .