Page 1295 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 23 March 2010
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community development. At west Belconnen the child and family centre will have a focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services, with the local community being consulted to ensure that services and programs deliver the identified needs of the local community. Construction has begun and it is expected to be completed by the end of 2010. The commonwealth has committed over $8 million and the ACT government is investing $4.67 million over six years for the centre. This is just another example of this government’s investment in the infrastructure that builds our local community for children and families.
MS PORTER: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Porter.
MS PORTER: Thank you. Could the minister outline the diversity of community infrastructure delivered by the ACT government in this area?
MS BURCH: I thank Ms Porter for her question. The range of community facilities provided by DHCS is extremely diverse. It ranges from buildings such as the Bimberi Youth Justice Centre to a project such as stepping stones for life disability accommodation program. The Bimberi Youth Justice Centre was the largest single capital works project undertaken by the department at a total cost of $42.5 million. It was completed in August 2008 on time and on budget.
At the other end of the scale is the stepping stones for life project. Stepping stones for life is a coalition of families who are working with Disability ACT and Housing ACT to establish supported accommodation options for people with disabilities that are living with ageing parents. All the parents involved are over 60 and most have reduced capacity to continue in an active caring role.
Presently, a house at Ainslie is nearing completion that will provide supported accommodation for three people with disabilities. The tenancy will be held by public housing ACT and this will ensure security of tenure for those young people and peace of mind for their parents and families.
Both of these projects showcase how outstanding outcomes can be achieved through officers in the department working in partnership with community organisations. They allow for new service responses to be delivered whilst addressing the unique needs of individuals. In the case of Bimberi, a campus environment allows young people to participate in education or job skills development as well as recreation or social activities reflecting opportunities available to younger people in the broader community.
This government supports a diverse range of infrastructure initiatives that go to the heart of Labor’s commitment to building our strong community.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Seselja, a supplementary?
MR SESELJA: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Minister, in your answer to Mr Hargreaves’s supplementary you referenced consultation with the Indigenous community. Could you just detail that consultation process for us?
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