Page 4524 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 18 October 2011
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I look forward to hearing the feedback from members of the community on the draft transport for Canberra plan. We will take that feedback into account as we finalise the plan in the coming months.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary, Dr Bourke.
DR BOURKE: Minister, one of the key features of the strategy is active transport. Can you detail what this entails and what are the measures in the transport for Canberra strategy that are aimed at reducing car use and therefore carbon emissions?
MR CORBELL: Again I thank Dr Bourke for the supplementary. Active transport, I guess, is a new term for an old-fashioned understanding, which is recognising that physical activity as part of a transport mode is a good thing for the community, it is a good thing for public health and it is a good thing for the health of the city overall. Active transport is a new term meaning that people will use physical actions such as walking, cycling or, indeed, scootering to get all or part of the way to their destination. Active transport is a low-cost and healthy option, helping people achieve the national physical activity guideline of 30 minutes per day of physical activity as part of their daily routine.
Transport for Canberra proposes to make active travel easier by extending the network of community paths, segregated cycle ways, shared spaces and paths and on-ride cycle lanes; improving signage and safety to encourage people to use active transport; and, of course encouraging more people to work and play within their local community. This direction has been confirmed in the draft ACT planning strategy which I released yesterday and which has been recognised by the Heart Foundation in their very strong endorsement of the draft planning strategy yesterday, saying it embodies the principles of active transport when it comes to land use and it is absolutely essential to encourage more people to take active transport. It also proposes creating better walking and cycling connections to bus stops and bike and ride facilities to local destinations such as group and local centres.
This is all part of the government’s integrated response to these very important challenges. Our objective is to encourage 23 per cent of journeys to work to be by public transport, walking or cycling by 2016. This is an important new target we have put in place. The interim target reflects—(Time expired.)
MS PORTER: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Porter.
MS PORTER: Minister, what are the repercussions of not having an ambitious transport plan in terms of traffic congestion and the impact on the environment?
MR CORBELL: Members should understand that—
Opposition members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order! The minister has the floor.
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