Page 1453 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 6 May 2008
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A Vibrant City and Great Neighbourhoods
Mr Speaker, as a planned city the national capital has expectations to live up to—expectations that are passed from generation to generation.
The high quality of local and suburban amenities is, in a sense, the birthright of all who call this city home.
But this birthright comes at a cost.
I have already spoken about the $100 million investment in our urban amenities funded through the billion-dollar Building the Future program, and the even bigger $250 million investment in the transport system that will make it easier to engage in and enjoy the opportunities afforded by membership of our community.
And of course many of the initiatives contained in the $100 million worth of initiatives to implement Weathering the Change, our Climate Change Strategy, will indirectly or directly enhance the amenity of our city too.
All of these investments are on top of the regular capital works program.
But it is what we do in our city—how we come together, how we celebrate—that makes us a true community.
This Budget provides $16.5 million over four years for the city’s festivals, tourism promotion, sporting events and the arts.
There’s:
• $2.4 million to promote Canberra as a great place to visit;
• $6.1 million for community events and our much-loved festivals;
• $4.4 million to enhance library collections;
• $10.8 million for arts activities; and
• $0.8 million for significant community events, including the hosting of a Rugby World Cup match, the International Mountain Bike Championships and the Festival of Running.
New visitor attractions in the pipeline include a tree-top walk, an enhanced Aboriginal Learning and Presentation area and other new features at the Sanctuary, in Tidbinbilla, at a cost of $2.2 million.
There’s a $1 million upgrade for the Belconnen Community Centre and $3.4 million for Exhibition Park.
There’s money for a Gungahlin community library.
There’s $2.7 million to restore the Albert Hall to its former glory.
There are major upgrades to shopping centres, including Deakin and Lyons.
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