Page 2838 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 17 September 2014
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In the four years since the action plan was launched, the government has followed through and delivered 17 upgrade projects, invested $20 million. We are seeing the benefits of that, and there is more to come associated with future stages of that action plan, city to the lake, the city plan and capital metro. We also anticipate that, as we have seen with the 11 expressions of interest associated with ACT government office accommodation, there will be significant urban renewal associated with that particular project.
Fundamentally, for the longer term we do need increased residential capability within the city through the city to the lake project, particularly the sites at the northern end. The sites I am referring to here are opposite the Sydney and Melbourne buildings, which are part of the city to the lake project and part of the project that is progressing through various design elements. It has interaction with the National Capital Authority, but that element is progressing well. Design guidelines have been endorsed and are off to the NCA for final approval, which will facilitate that land release.
When you consider those two sites, together with the PPP for the Supreme Court project, the feasibility study that is underway in relation to the Canberra theatre, the continuation of work to get the Australia forum project to an investment ready status, the Constitution Avenue upgrades, the further work associated with section 63 that the private owners have undertaken in their change in plans in relation to an increased residential component, the investment we have seen in the QT hotel that is leveraging off the investment we have seen next door in New Acton, and the continuation of the ANU exchange project and the remaining three sites there, you can see that there is a huge amount of activity occurring within the CBD. It is perhaps most visible and most popular in Braddon at the moment, but it will move from that area to a number of other parts of the city in the coming months and years. It is very encouraging to see, and the government will continue to make investments off our own budget and seek to encourage the private sector to make complementary investments—the private sector locally, nationally and internationally.
What is particularly pleasing in recent times is the level of national and international interest. That competitive process is certainly going to engender better outcomes for Canberra. It has got to be about more than just this economy; we are too small in and of ourselves. We need to attract new capital, and we are seeing that interest nationally and internationally. It is fantastic to see. I will be in Singapore and Tokyo next month, and one of the key elements of that particular mission will involve seeking to attract new investment into a number of those key projects.
MR SMYTH (Brindabella) (4.15): I thank Mr Coe for bringing on the motion. It is interesting that all those opposite have simply avoided the motion: “We don’t want to have that debate. We want this big amendment so we don’t have to talk about the nub of what Mr Coe wants.” It says simply:
… calls on the … Government to facilitate the publishing of an options paper … that would detail the alternatives open to the Government for revitalisation of Garema Place and City Walk.
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