Page 2836 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 17 September 2014
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Christmas time in the city have been very successful. I think Mr Coe mentioned earlier the possibility of having more markets and the like in places like City Walk. I would completely agree with him on that. I must revise why that is not possible. There was an attempt just a couple of years ago to start a Saturday morning market in the city. I think this was before I was the minister. There was a series of leasing limitations which meant that those people were not allowed to establish one in City Walk. The fact that that is not possible, and is enforced by other lessees in the space, is a sad reflection because I think that sort of thing would bring a whole lot more dynamism to the city space.
I do not disagree with some of Mr Coe’s points. I think he has raised some really interesting questions. The reason I am supporting the amendment today is that I think the “calls on” section is a better approach to this. An update to the Assembly on the process of implementation of the city plan means we can weigh up what has been done and what has been implemented out of all the work that has already taken place and we can then work out whether further steps need to be taken. I do not know that simply sitting down and trying to do a whole new round of talking to all of the people we have got to talk to through that process will add value at this point. That is the primary difference as to why I am supporting the amendment today.
MR BARR (Molonglo—Deputy Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Housing and Minister for Tourism and Events) (4.05): I thank Mr Coe for raising the issue and Mr Gentleman and Mr Rattenbury for their comments. I do not think anyone is going to disagree with the objective of improving public infrastructure in our city centre. It has been pleasing that since the October 2010 release of the city area action plan more than $20 million worth of capital funding has been allocated to improve parks, public transport, lighting and footpaths in the city area.
Mr Smyth interjecting—
MR BARR: We have spent $20 million, Mr Smyth.
Apart from the obvious aesthetic and public safety improvements, the broader economic objective was to attract and support private sector investment. It is very pleasing to see that as a result of that government public infrastructure investment, we have seen a number of private sector co-investments in particular areas around the CBD. This has included the significant investment that has occurred along Childers Street, in city west; on the eastern side of the city near Glebe Park, the Manhattan apartments development; the new Acton development that is attracting national and international recognition; and, perhaps most pleasingly, as the planning change that allowed this to happen was one of mine in 2008, in Braddon, where we are seeing Mort and Lonsdale streets undergoing particular rejuvenation, leading to increased private sector investment, entrepreneurship and innovation in that particular precinct.
That wave of growth that we have seen in Civic and Braddon is complemented by recent land sales. The demand and public interest associated with the Constitution Avenue upgrade, and the land release there for a range of mixed use outcomes, give us confidence that future sites along that Constitution Avenue corridor will be well supported.
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