Page 1423 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 10 April 2013
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
the lake. I think the only exciting thing that happens around that part of the lake at times is getting chased by the ducks during nesting season! I think we can do better, and I think Canberrans want us to do better. Part of the discussion about the city to the lake project has to be about what people think of it, whether they would like to see this part of their city connected from the city to the lake, and whether they would like to see those types of facilities on that part of Lake Burley Griffin. This is the feedback that we have been getting. I have to say that it has been largely positive. People have come and said that they would like to see these things and we should just get on and do it. Of course, there are other views, particularly in opinion pieces that have appeared in the paper by people who would like to keep things as they are now.
Let me look at the capital metro project. This is an important public transport network. The government has examined the opportunities of bus rapid transit and light rail, and we have taken a decision to support light rail in a way that we believe can transform the city and connect the city. We want to see a modern, efficient and integrated public transport system where the bus network works alongside and complements the light rail service once it is operational.
It is a decision that we have taken with confidence about the future of our city. It is something that we have not had before. We acknowledge Mr Coe’s preparedness to talk down the project, and his claim that nothing has happened for a million dollars. Well, a lot has happened.
Mr Coe interjecting—
MS GALLAGHER: A lot has happened, and we have a lot of hardworking staff that are working on the next stage of the light rail project. The comments made by Mr Coe diminish that work. A lot of planning and a lot of studies will be done prior to the track being laid. Probably even Mr Coe, in his more rational moments, would understand that that will be a part of this project.
The light rail project will gather momentum. We are considering it as part of the budget deliberations, and we are committed to the project. But we are also committed to being prudent with the project in making sure that every step along the way has been supported with evidence and with information to the cabinet in taking those next decisions.
If we look more broadly across the city, we have a range of other programs that operate. It is not just about the city centre, even though that is an important debate to be happening. We also need to keep a focus on how we keep our local centres a great place for people to use, whether it be for meeting, shopping or whatever people choose to do. Again we hear from Canberrans who like and acknowledge the importance of those local centres, the group centres, and I think that is where programs like the shopping centre upgrade program have been so successful.
We have done a number of shops in recent years, and there are a number that we have flagged as part of our commitment in the election campaign. We have got construction work at Waramanga, Farrer and Red Hill shops. We have got design studies for upgrades at Chapman, Evatt, Florey and Hughes. And we have forward
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video