Page 1415 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 5 June 2007
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there is no doubt that the simultaneous ageing of kilometres of pavement and other infrastructure poses a challenge for even the most vigilant of repair programs.
That is why the government is putting a special focus in this budget on infrastructure upgrades, including roads, the alleviation of traffic congestion and safety improvements. New capital funding of around $51 million is provided in this budget for new roads and upgrades to the existing road network. Most notable, and most welcome for thousands of daily commuters and air travellers, will be the planned upgrades to airport roads.
Motorists in Civic and the Woden area will also benefit from a significant investment in extra parking spaces, with $32.5 million earmarked for parking at the Canberra Hospital, Acton and Woden.
Of course, our love affair with the car, a consequence of decades of planning decisions, is a very mixed blessing, in an age where climate change challenges the behaviour of each of us.
That is why we must—against the odds—continue to encourage greater use of public transport.
In fact, patronage on our bus network is up.
But costs continue to be high and the government is committed to simultaneously achieving greater efficiency and greater responsiveness.
We have invested $73 million in public transport services since coming to government. Today I announce new operating funding of $2 million in 2007-08 for additional services and bus maintenance A comprehensive service plan involving community consultation is being developed. Reforms will be in place later this year.
I also announce $16 million over two years in capital funding to modernise the bus fleet and its ticketing system and a further $400,000 for ACTION’s CCTV security network.
Mr Speaker, Canberrans have long enjoyed the highest participation rates in the country when it comes to sport and recreation.
Making Canberra an even better place to live means, among other things, ensuring that all Canberrans have opportunities to stay fit and healthy.
There is no doubt that the drought and water restrictions make this a challenge, but it is a challenge we must, as a community and as a government, rise to.
Today I announce a significant investment in building and upgrading sporting facilities across Canberra. Labor will spend almost $13 million over four years on sport and recreation activities, including $10 million in capital works.
Major improvements are being made to the Lakeside Leisure Centre at Tuggeranong and the Canberra Olympic pool, with a total of $6 million in capital funds improving these popular facilities.
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