Page 2857 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 5 August 2008
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
MR BARR: I thank Ms Porter for her question and for her continuing service to the people of Gungahlin. Ms Porter is a valuable member of our united, experienced and energetic team, a fact that we know from the amount of work that she does for her constituents—more work than the entire Liberal opposition combined.
Mr Stanhope: Only since they expelled Mr Mulcahy.
MR BARR: It is worth noting: only since Mr Mulcahy was expelled. The government is committed to building better cities and stronger communities. This commitment is especially important in Gungahlin, Canberra’s newest and fastest growing community.
The government’s land release program means that Gungahlin will continue to grow at a rapid rate. As communities grow, so does their need for infrastructure and services. This government has committed to delivering infrastructure and services to Gungahlin, most particularly when it comes to new state-of-the-art schools, community spaces and sporting infrastructure.
We have been able to achieve this because of our experience in keeping the ACT economy strong and because, as the Chief Minister and Treasurer has indicated, the ACT’s finances are on such a stable footing. As a result, we are able to invest funds in Gungahlin’s future. We have delivered the Amaroo school and this year the Harrison primary school. We have committed to the Harrison high school opening in 2012.
As the Chief Minister has indicated, we are building a $67 million state-of-the-art facility for secondary college students and CIT students. The college will form part of a larger precinct that includes a public library, a CIT facility, a public park and—as we discussed at some length today the commitment yesterday by the government to future of Gungahlin—a re-elected Stanhope government will build an indoor pool complex.
As part of the funding in this year’s budget, the government is investigating the scope of the centre to include a 50-metre pool, a 25-metre pool, at least one court space for multi-use indoor purposes—for example, netball, indoor soccer, indoor cricket—and a range of other associated amenities such as a cafe and gymnasium.
This is clearly a very good project for the people of Gungahlin and it will contribute to what will be a magnificent precinct in the town centre. The Chief Minister and Treasurer has indicated that the government will commit up to $20 million for the construction of the pool. We have feasibility and design work underway to advise on the best way to deliver this project.
It is worth noting that this commitment to a pool is consistent with our 2004 election commitment to reserve a site for a pool in Gungahlin for development when the population reaches the appropriate size. In this year’s budget we funded the feasibility and forward design study in this term of government. We have announced that we will deliver the project in the next term of government. We have reserved a site and the work is underway.
We are very committed to delivering this project. This appears to stand in stark contrast to the position of the Leader of the Opposition, who, in a paid advertisement
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .