Page 519 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 19 March 2014
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
This will undoubtedly bring short-term economic benefits in the construction phase as well as longer term benefits arising from the urban intensification and new retail activity in Dickson.
We estimate that the construction of the new Coles store will create around 200 jobs. Construction employment in the Coles site is likely to continue for at least a further two years as construction on the Tradies car park commences once the underground public parking is available on the supermarket site.
Once operating, the Coles supermarket will generate 120 full-time equivalent jobs. There will, of course, be further jobs created at the Aldi supermarket and in the specialty stores, bringing the total full-time equivalent jobs created closer to 200. It is also worth noting that the amount of car parking in the Dickson group centre will be doubled as a result of the redevelopment. We will go from about 200 places to nearly 500 on the particular site that will be redeveloped. In future phases of development as part of the Dickson master plan we will see significant urban renewal in this most important of group centres in north Canberra.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Dr Bourke.
DR BOURKE: Minister, what are some of the other projects that will contribute to the growth and development of north Canberra?
MR BARR: There are certainly a range of projects that the government is promoting that will drive growth through north Canberra, from the central business district all the way to Gungahlin. The major project, clearly, is capital metro, which has the potential to unlock enormous growth opportunities along Northbourne Avenue, Flemington Road and into Gungahlin. The operation of light rail in this corridor will support increases in residential and commercial densities and will transform how the city develops, particularly its capacity to encourage sustainable economic activity.
As a key landholder and a land manager under the leasehold system, there is a unique opportunity for the ACT government to both directly and indirectly encourage urban renewal along the corridor. Those renewal opportunities include but are not limited to renewal of our public housing assets, greater focus on mixed use development and the location of ACT government offices along the transit corridor. As I mentioned earlier, the significant redevelopment that is occurring in Braddon as a result of the earlier planning changes certainly will be supported by the light rail project. The work that will occur in Dickson, both in the public and in the private sector, as a result of that being a key intersection and a key station in our public transport system is certainly going to provide significant economic development opportunities along the entire capital metro corridor. It will be a significant boost to the economy of north Canberra, and it is one that we look forward to delivering.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Gentleman.
MR GENTLEMAN: Minister, why is it important that the ACT government boost growth and provide services not just in north Canberra but across regions in the territory?
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video