Page 3506 - Week 08 - Thursday, 23 August 2012
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wetlands are built for the purpose of non-potable supply. The government has accepted that recommendation, and we will be trialling the inner north project before proceeding with further wetlands for the purposes of irrigation of non-potable water.
The government continues to support a range of practical programs around recycling. The ACTSmart business and office programs now see more than 26,500 Canberrans participating in the programs. We are seeing significant uptake by the commercial sector in these recycling programs, and I am sure Mr Smyth and Mr Seselja will both be interested to learn that the Tuggeranong Hyperdome is the first large-scale shopping centre in the ACT to adopt the ACTSmart business and office programs when it comes to recycling in that retail space. That includes recycling in the food court and recycling in individual businesses in the centre. They are diverting significant amounts of waste from landfill because of their participation in this Labor government’s ACTSmart office and business programs. It is great to see the Tuggeranong Hyperdome on board, and we will be using that example to encourage other large shopping centres in the ACT to join as well. We know large volumes of waste in our shopping centres are still going to landfill that can be diverted and recycled.
It would be remiss of me not to mention the ACTSmart outreach program, which is assisting low income renters to improve energy efficiency in their homes. We have provided funding of $8 million over four years until 2014-15 for this program. This has delivered very successful results. We are seeing significant savings in low income households’ electricity bills and other energy bills because of our support for those low income family households to see their fridges replaced, their expensive washing machines replaced, better window treatments installed and better draught sealing installed. It is all about improving the energy efficiency of their dwellings, reducing their energy costs and saving money on their electricity bills, recognising that low income households are the most vulnerable to movements in prices on utilities. That is where this Labor government is focusing its efforts. The government will have more to say about the results of this program in the coming weeks.
Turning finally to the planning and transport planning activities in the Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate, an important focus of ESDD is the strategic planning to manage growth for the future of the city. The master planning program has proven to be highly successful in achieving strong levels of community consensus around how key centres and corridors will develop over time as the city continues to grow. We have seen great success with our master planning exercises at Kambah, Erindale, Kingston and Dickson. We are seeing the results follow through from the government’s strategic planning with agreed outcomes on how development, for example, will occur in Dickson, then following through with land releases to provide greater retail choices for residents and improving public realm. There is a new urban park, for example, in Dickson as a result of the master planning exercise for Dickson now being gazetted and zoned through a change to the territory plan. These are important outcomes from the master planning processes. Of course, work is ongoing at the Weston group centre, Oaks Estate and Pialligo. These are very important investments in strategic planning for the future of our city.
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