Page 2508 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 6 August 2013
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DR BOURKE: Chief Minister, why are these projects important, and how will they benefit the whole community?
MS GALLAGHER: I thank Dr Bourke for the question. The city plan, capital metro and, indeed, another project that we are working on at the moment, digital Canberra, are vital parts of how Canberra will be transformed over the next few years. Capital metro will deliver a more efficient and sustainable public transport system. It will create jobs, it will reduce congestion and it will provide benefits for the whole community.
The city plan ensures that we deliver on our vision for our city as a progressive, inclusive and vibrant city with a distinctive urban culture. Digital Canberra will also ensure that we capitalise on the opportunities of the digital age. It will support jobs, investment, economic diversification, improve connectivity to markets and between citizens and support better public services.
These projects are about investing in Canberra and investing for the benefit of the whole community. They will contribute to economic growth, and I think there is agreement that that is good for Canberra’s future. They will provide sustainable development and further transport options. Again, I think there is no disagreement about delivering on that. And they will deliver world-class infrastructure and provide better services and more choice for Canberrans. Importantly, particularly over the next few years, they will provide jobs and optimism for the local economy.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Gentleman.
MR GENTLEMAN: Chief Minister, what measures are you taking to ensure there is a consistent investment in urban renewal across the whole of the ACT?
MS GALLAGHER: I thank Mr Gentleman for the question. This is an issue that comes up from time to time, particularly when we are dealing with new development fronts such as Gungahlin and Molonglo, about a view from some parts of Canberra that perhaps all of the effort is going into the new development fronts. I think it is important to realise that when we are framing our budget, we are also looking at the needs of Canberra right across the city.
Mr Hanson: Sure you are!
MS GALLAGHER: We are. I sit around the table, so I know exactly the discussions that we have. And I do not think it is any secret that when Tuggeranong was built—in fact I lived here at the time—there was certainly a feeling from other parts of Canberra that Tuggeranong got all of the new infrastructure and everything looked great there and other parts were not looking as new and fresh. That has been around for many years.
I think any objective analysis of the budget would also see that investments are being made right across the city, to upgrade existing infrastructure, to build new services, to deliver better services such as the new walk-in centre that will be opened down in
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