Page 1765 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 5 May 2010
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transport plan to achieve a significant modal shift, was a central part of this budget. I think it can be said fairly and honestly that this is the most targeted, significant investment—an investment of $100 million designed to deal exclusively with issues of public transport, cycling, walking and initiatives that will lead to an enhancement of public transport in a significant way—which governments previously have been able to achieve.
It is a very broad package that has sought to identify all of the different sorts of infrastructure that will lead to people feeling more comfortable about walking if they wish to walk, about cycling if they choose to cycle, or about seeking to access ACTION for public transport. It does, in the context of the entire package, seek to deal with those various push and pull factors that are part and parcel of seeking a change in behaviour and a move to, most particularly, public transport but also to make cycling and walking, in particular, more attractive through a focus on where we can design and build transit ways and how we can encourage greater usage or sharing of vehicles along our major carriageways.
That is the philosophy which underpins this particular package that comes out of the detailed work that has been done over recent years as we develop a transport for Canberra plan, a transport action plan. Members would be aware by perusing the budget of the very significant range of targeted initiatives that it contains: $4.8 million for park-and-ride and bike and ride facilities at places like EPIC, Erindale shopping centre, Phillip pool, Cohen Street in Belconnen, Gungahlin and Tuggeranong. There is $3.5 million for lighting in the city, understanding that, if it is very dark and not friendly after one gets off a bus, say, at a major bus station or interchange, there is an inhibition against walking, and we are seeking to address those sorts of issues as we develop the package.
There is $2.7 million for new bus stops, shelters, signs, lights and bike racks and $1 million for new on-road and off-road cycling community paths, accepting and acknowledging that it needs to be understood that there was in excess of $2.8 million provided in this financial year in the capital program for enhanced cycle and community paths. This $1 million is a top-up of money that was provided last year.
There is $14.7 million provided for a third lane on Parkes Way and the Glenloch interchange to the Acton tunnel, acknowledging issues around congestion and the fact that there is a very complex matrix of transport initiatives that need to be pursued. There is $7.1 million to upgrade that part of the Cotter Road from the expressway to Adelaide Avenue, in acknowledgement of the pressure that will be brought to bear on that particular transit way as a result of the development of Molonglo. There has, too, in recognition of the need to deal with some of the complex issues around buses—(Time expired.)
MR SPEAKER: Mr Hargreaves, a supplementary?
MR HARGREAVES: Thanks, Mr Speaker. Can the Chief Minister please tell us more about the transport initiatives in the budget which are not necessarily related to the transport for Canberra plan?
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