Page 1085 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 20 March 2013
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A good example, as highlighted in Dr Bourke’s motion, is the transformational project which will be the capital metro light rail project. Capital metro will provide an easy, frequent, reliable, and high quality travel experience linking Gungahlin and areas in between to Civic, and it will be a model for a future city-wide network.
As we all know, Northbourne Avenue is one of Canberra’s most congested roads during peak hour. Despite being the premier gateway to Canberra and an attractive avenue of national significance, this congestion significantly increases travel times to and from and through the city and reduces the amenity of the corridor for residents and commuters alike. This is a particularly significant consideration given the implementation of planning policies over an extended period of time that have sought to place more people living in close proximity to the corridor.
Significant investment is required to deal with these issues, and in doing so, the government is choosing to solve the problem in a positive and transformational manner that will provide broader benefits to our community and economy. In addition to providing a fast and frequent connection between Gungahlin town centre and the city centre, the project will also contribute to the broader sustainability of our city by encouraging a move away from the private motor vehicle to public transport usage, promoting and creating more opportunities for walking and cycling, increasing physical activity and, of course, having the commensurate health benefits as well as reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
The project also acts as a catalyst for the transformation of the corridor itself and will allow for change and renewal in a way that would not otherwise be possible. Change and renewal of the urban form along the corridor will maximise access to light rail and maximise the potential of land along the corridor. People will be attracted to live and work in and around this corridor to take advantage of its benefits in terms of accessibility. This, in turn, will result in positive changes to travel behaviour and increased use of public transport as well as the health and environmental outcomes I have just mentioned.
Supported by integrated bus services, cyclepaths, footpaths and complementary land uses, the government’s capital metro project will provide opportunities for transit-oriented development, where people do not have to rely on the car for every trip they take, they can work closer to home and be close to the amenity offered by the central city area.
A significant amount of work has already been undertaken by the government to start to implement this project. Last year the government confirmed the economic feasibility of the project and developed a concept design and high level cost estimates. This year I was able to announce that the capital metro agency is being established. The agency will continue the planning and design of light rail with a target date of construction commencement of 2016. There is a lot of work to be done with this project, and the government is fully committed to its implementation.
I would now like to turn to another element of Dr Bourke’s motion, which is the emphasis the government has placed on helping our city make a shift to renewable
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