Page 5086 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 17 November 2009
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
MR STANHOPE: The upgrade will contribute significantly in a number of areas. It will contribute certainly economically. It will certainly have an impact, and almost certainly a measurable impact, on productivity as a result of the relief that will be provided at a major bottleneck. There is significant modelling that is available in relation to the productivity advance or increase that can be attributed to the unblocking of a major bottleneck such as that suffered at Lanyon Drive. So I think we could start probably and proceed from there, Ms Le Couteur that there will be a significant impact on our productivity—in other words, on economic activity, our economic base—and, through the increase on productivity and the enhancement of our economy, we as a government will have the capacity and the wherewithal, to a far greater extent, to invest in transit lanes on that and other roads, a capacity that we do not have, or at least not globally, as a result of other calls on our budget.
At the heart of all of these issues, Ms Le Couteur, is the capacity to pay, the capacity amongst the very many competing priorities, and I look forward to investigating the Greens budget submission for the next budget. I will be interested to see exactly how the Greens have prioritised a transit way from Jerrabomberra to Hume. If that is the Greens number one priority, Ms Le Couteur, you will have a very willing advocate in me. I will study your submissions with great interest and determine exactly where the Jerrabomberra to Hume transit way is in your wish list of capital—in fact, I might even have it here; I might be able to give a response before the end of question time to the Greens’ real determination to see a transit way built between Jerrabomberra and Hume.
MR SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Mr Stanhope: Or you could actually perhaps—
MR SPEAKER: Thank you. You can have your seat now.
Mr Stanhope: advise us now where it is on your list.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Stanhope, do not make me warn you today.
MR COE: Minister, does the government have plans to construct bus priority measures on Canberra Avenue near Fyshwick?
MR STANHOPE: Thank you, Mr Coe. I should perhaps refresh myself in terms of plans but I have to say that Canberra Avenue between Fyshwick and Queanbeyan is a road that I think, in time, will increasingly demand attention. But in the context of priorities that this government has for transitways and dedicated busways, it is not uppermost in my mind or uppermost in the priorities that I would pursue or that we as a government will pursue. I think, as a result of our quite detailed planning for sustainable transport and certainly for integrated bus routes throughout the territory, we will, over time, incrementally increase the number of dedicated transitways and busways and, indeed, will continue to enhance our bike path network both on and off road.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video