Page 3654 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 23 August 2011
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very fast train project and for a light rail project before the 2008 election. These projects have since been dropped as ACT bids. Minister, why hasn’t the government re-examined or reworked these proposals and resubmitted them?
MR CORBELL: I thank Ms Bresnan for the question. In relation to very high speed rail, we are pleased that the federal government has put the issue of very high speed rail back on the agenda. A very significant report, as members would be aware, has been released outlining a range of options for the possible development of a very high speed rail corridor from Brisbane through to Melbourne, connecting both Sydney and Canberra. The ACT government remains very supportive of this project and will continue to liaise with the federal government at every possible opportunity in relation to its work on this matter.
In relation to light rail, the government is continuing to develop more refined and improved options for light rail. As Ms Bresnan would be aware, the Infrastructure Australia assessment did not give priority to the government’s request for the development of a light rail network in Canberra. So the government has taken the view that we need to build a stronger and better business case, both for the government’s consideration of its own investment in light rail and for possible future consideration by Infrastructure Australia.
MS BRESNAN: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Bresnan.
MS BRESNAN: Minister, is the revised Infrastructure Australia bid for light rail one of the goals of the current Northbourne Avenue transport study? If so, when do you expect to finalise the bid?
MR CORBELL: As the Chief Minister has indicated, the possible development of light rail along Northbourne Avenue is a priority for the government, and that work is being led by me and my Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate. Yes, the work undertaken as part of the study will be used to inform both the government’s own decision making about investment decisions for rapid transit along the Northbourne Avenue corridor and any future work that the government pursues with Infrastructure Australia in relation to light rail.
MS LE COUTEUR: Supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Le Couteur.
MS LE COUTEUR: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Has the ACT government asked for federal assistance to improve ACT freight rail infrastructure, potentially in conjunction with a future high-speed rail network?
MR CORBELL: As I have said previously, despite the misrepresentations that Ms Bresnan has made in relation to this matter, it is not the case that the ACT government does not support future improvements to rail freight arrangements in the territory. I note that Ms Bresnan put out a media statement saying that the ACT
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