Page 2837 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 17 September 2014
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Important partnerships have been formed not just with the development industry, though. That is an important point to stress here. There have been a number of opportunities created for small businesses to open out onto these expanded walkways and improved streets. Civic and Braddon are now more enjoyable and active places in which to live and work and to visit.
Partnerships have also included international-level ones. Ten embassies have adopted the Latin American Plaza in City West, and have donated significant public artworks as a show of their support for this part of the city, and indeed for the ACT government’s efforts to lift the quality and image of our CBD.
It is also worth acknowledging the outstanding work of Canberra CBD Ltd, an organisation of property owners who are responsible for a number of fantastic events in the city that have been mentioned already in the debate, including Skate in the City and Christmas Carnival in the City. They have also utilised the funds that the government collects on their behalf for a number of infrastructure improvements. We have all seen the significant lighting of a number of the street trees, additional hanging flower baskets, cleaning of the private areas within the city, and a range of other upgrades where they have co-contributed with the ACT government.
Since the CBD action plan was released just a little less than four years ago, the territory’s capital investment has delivered 17 projects. The areas that we have focused on are ones that have not had public investment for more than 40 years, I am advised. This has included important replacement of all of the non-compliant street lighting within the city with new modern street lighting. It has included the refurbishment of Veterans Park; the upgrading of verges on London Circuit, and you can see the upgrades just outside this building; and, as Minister Rattenbury has indicated, the significant improved amenity on City Walk. This is on top of a couple of really important transport projects for the city, including the Belconnen to city busway and the Civic cycle loop.
With all of these projects, the government worked purposefully with the private sector to ensure that disruptions were kept to a minimum during construction phases and that the completed work would in fact enhance business opportunities.
The government has evaluated the work done to date in the post-occupancy evaluation report and in a detailed survey of pedestrian activity throughout the CBD, including City Walk and Garema Place. The research shows that the program has improved Civic’s pedestrian environment, both day and night. A secondary outcome has been the considerable improvement in the CBD’s appearance and the fostering of a greater sense of pride in the city.
However, there is further work to be undertaken to meet modern standards and to adapt other parts of the city to the more intensive developments that are generating increased vibrancy and activity. The focus in the immediate term will be through capital metro, the city plan and the city to the lake projects, presenting opportunities for public-private partnerships to invest in the CBD to meet changing needs, to continue to attract private sector investment. It has been pleasing to see a number of recent announcements, and we recognise the popularity of these upgrades and their usage by the Canberra community.
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