Page 3043 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 14 August 2013
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notwithstanding their circumstances, not only have access to quality education and quality education facilities but, importantly, quality teaching so that they can reach their potential. And we have a very good record on this.
Mr Assistant Speaker, as you are aware, this budget includes funding for the national education reform agreement, which will focus on further improving students’ learning and strengthening teaching, school leadership, transparency and accountability. No doubt many of my Ginninderra constituents will benefit greatly from this.
A further $13Â million has been set aside for the capital upgrades program for ACT schools, which will see several schools in my electorate benefit from upgrade programs such as school security improvements and classroom refurbishments to schools such as Macgregor and Mount Rogers schools respectively, staff room refurbishments at Macquarie Primary School and roof upgrades at Canberra High School. Other upgrade programs include school safety, car park and traffic safety improvements, disability access programs, water refilling stations, solar tubes and LED lighting, just to name a few.
The Canberra Institute of Technology Bruce campus will also benefit from this budget. It will see upgrades to the fire alarm panels, upgrades to Tecom security systems, a solar hot-water system at D block and upgraded signage. These undertakings are not only aimed at ensuring security for students and staff but also providing for an enhanced learning environment.
This budget, through the urban improvement program, has also focused on improving recreational opportunities to ensure that people can engage in active living. Specifically, through this program the Ginninderra community will see $100,000 set aside to undertake access improvements to the very poplar Emu Bank area next to Lake Ginninderra for local skaters and residents.
Further funds were set aside for completing the design and renewal of the play area in John Knight park, specifically the play area known as the snake house. Those of you who frequent this park know that it is a very well patronised park. The Weetangera neighbourhood oval will also benefit from the urban improvement program. These initiatives will ensure that the local community enjoys high quality facilities.
The urban improvement program will see improvements made to shopping centres in Ginninderra. Shopping centres such as Evatt, Florey, Charnwood and Cook will benefit from forward design studies, with upgrades to the former two centres set for completion in 2014. Hawker and Jamison shopping centres will see upgrades as well.
Investments such as these and many others that my colleagues have talked or will talk about acknowledge growth in my electorate of Ginninderra. My constituents will greatly benefit from the critical services and infrastructure that will be provided as a result of this budget.
To conclude, I reiterate that this budget is good, responsible and well prioritised. It will set Canberra in a better position to address future challenges, and Ginninderra residents will be better off through the many initiatives contained in it. I do not see
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