Page 4525 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 18 October 2011
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MR CORBELL: everyone wins when the bus comes on time. Everyone wins when there is increased frequency. Everyone wins when there is increased reliability. The sooner you are able to deliver that and embed that into your public transport system, the more capable you are of reducing congestion or delaying the impacts of congestion on your road network.
We know that we will continue to see increases in congestion if we do not take steps to improve public transport patronage. Congestion on Canberra’s roads will double between now and 2030 and move from about 100 kilometres of road length impacted by congestion to 200 kilometres of road length impacted by congestion, at a cost of around $200 million per year to the ACT economy, unless we invest in better public transport. That, indeed, is this government’s objective.
Opposition members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order!
MR CORBELL: Of course, I am dismayed that those opposite are just not interested in the challenge of addressing this. They are not interested in the economic cost, let alone the environmental cost, because dealing with congestion is a key element of the government’s transport for Canberra strategy.
MS BRESNAN: Supplementary.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Bresnan.
MS BRESNAN: Minister, given that the plan reveals that the people of Canberra want 80 per cent of the transport budget given to walking, cycling and public transport, is it now an ACT government goal that the transport budget will reflect this?
MR CORBELL: I am not quite sure what Ms Bresnan is referring to, but the government’s approach on this issue is to recognise that we need a range of investments across all transport modes. It is sensible that we continue to invest and to increase our investments, as the budget permits, in public transport provision, walking and cycling. That remains a very strong commitment of the government. Of course, it is important to remember that over $100 million has been invested by this government in the last two years in public transport improvements, in better bus services, in better bus infrastructure, in more cycling and walking facilities. That is the investment this Labor government is making. We will continue to do that, but we will also recognise that there is a need to maintain a strong and efficient road network because we still see a very large number of journeys occurring by road and we need to adopt a reasonable and balanced approach to these investment decisions.
Environment—e-waste
MS LE COUTEUR: My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development and concerns e-waste contracts. I understand that e-waste collected in the ACT is being stored at Mugga Lane before being recycled by a local company called Renewable Processes; however, Renewable Processes only has this
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