Page 497 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 19 March 2014

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emergency services facilities to protect life, property and the environment, including $17 million for the construction of a new fire and rescue station at south Tuggeranong in Mr Gentleman’s electorate, in addition to the recently completed station at west Belconnen in my electorate and your electorate too, Madam Deputy Speaker; the refurbishment of the Supreme Court building and a building linking to the Magistrates Court which is being delivered through a public-private partnership over four years; and, of course, the Belconnen Community Health Centre.

The government delivered the new Belconnen Community Health Centre to the public on 11 November, on budget and on time. That is right, Mr Coe—on budget and on time. The Belconnen Community Health Centre is part of the ACT government’s health infrastructure program—a centre designed in consultation with stakeholders. I have been for a tour there and I had a look at the suite of dental facilities that are available. They are excellent. You would be filled with pride to work in that environment. This 11,000 square metre development is a great example of needed infrastructure providing jobs in the construction and operational phases whilst serving an essential community service. There will be about 90 staff working there.

When fully operational it is expected to host about 57,000 appointments in the first year and up to 100,000 by 2020. It will include a nurse-led walk-in centre, which will be opened later this year, to complement the service in Tuggeranong. It will also offer breast screening, medical imaging, mental health services and pathology collection. The services to be enhanced or increased are allied health services such as physiotherapy, child health, dental—which I have already talked about—community nursing and ambulatory care services that are normally only accessible from a hospital. Medical services, including the kind of services constituents have been asking me about, include satellite dialysis and outpatient clinics operating up to 24 hours a day, six days a week. This new health centre is a wonderful addition to our community and it complements the ACT healthcare system, which is one of the most technologically advanced, state-of-the-art healthcare systems in the world.

To return to that first paragraph in my motion, this motion notes the important contribution of capital infrastructure to building jobs growth. Note, Madam Deputy Speaker, that not once during this debate have the Canberra Liberals said that they will support this motion. I think they just do not care.

Question put:

That the motion be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

Question so resolved in the affirmative.

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