Page 479 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 19 March 2014
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met and that it sets a higher standard for development in the ACT. If the developers do achieve what they have set out to do, I think they will set a new benchmark and one that will hopefully influence thinking right across the territory.
The challenge that remains, I think—the ACT government will need to work on this issue—is to ensure that we deliver the necessary transport infrastructure to match the increase in residents moving into that area and not just enhance road infrastructure. It is about ensuring that we provide the public transport infrastructure in to the area as well so that we do give the residents the choice of how they move around this city and that we do not simply condemn them to needing two or three cars per household, that there are viable alternatives for residents in that area.
Dr Bourke also mentions health infrastructure in his motion. I think that there are a couple of areas here that I am very supportive of. I think the walk-in centres have been a success. We will talk about those more later today; so I will keep my remarks on that short for now. But the new women’s and children’s hospital has been well received. Certainly, on a recent visit when I had a younger family member in there I was very impressed by the facilities as well as by the staff. The physical infrastructure is also very welcome.
The secure mental health facility is another very important piece of infrastructure that we need to get moving on. It is reflected in the parliamentary agreement because it is something the Greens certainly support. I think that we need that sort of community mental health facility in the ACT. Certainly, as the Minister for Corrections I am mindful of ensuring that we have good mental facilities in the ACT so that people who need health treatment do not end up incarcerated because there is no other choice or they do not have alternatives. We should ensure that the people in the AMC are there for the right reasons and that those that need mental health support get it in other places. Prison is not the place to be treating mental health concerns.
There is a whole range of other health matters that I could turn to but I am mindful of the time. I will not re-prosecute the light rail discussion today. I note Mr Coe’s comments. I think it would be fair to say that I do not share his pessimism. I think that light rail is a project that is going to deliver substantial environmental, economic and social benefits for this city and I reject particularly the observations around the master plan.
We well know that this corridor that is planned for is both the most congested corridor in town and one that offers significant opportunity for urban renewal and for economic opportunities. I think it will really set a new standard in Canberra and provide newer opportunities for this city that are not currently envisaged. I look forward to seeing that rollout over both the immediate term as the infrastructure is developed but also over a longer period as the city builds around that very valuable and innovative infrastructure.
There are other projects I could comment on. However, I shall have to leave my remarks there.
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