Page 3030 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 23 September 2014
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prior to presenting the report to the directorate and to me. I anticipate at this stage that the report will be completed based on the reviewers’ advice by the end of this calendar year.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Minister, have you received an interim report? If so, will you make it public, and what is the cost of this extended work?
MR CORBELL: No, I have not received an interim report. And in relation to the cost, I will take the question on notice.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Minister, why have you ignored your responsibilities as minister for emergency services due to your fascination and preoccupation with capital metro?
MR CORBELL: It would help if the opposition’s supplementary questions actually related to the previous answer rather than relying on their set-piece rhetoric.
Transport—light rail
DR BOURKE: My question is to the Minister for Planning. Minister, could you please outline what current planning work is underway in preparation for stage 1 of light rail in Canberra?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Dr Bourke for his question. Investment in public transport is vitally important for governments all around the world to be able to respond to the challenges facing cities today, including increasing traffic congestion, greenhouse gas emissions, declining air quality, urban sprawl, social exclusion and ageing infrastructure. Transport for Canberra, the government’s transport policy, responds to these issues and identifies the need for government to invest in rapid transit, including light rail.
The delivery of capital metro light rail and its first stage between Gungahlin and the city will be an important city building project with long-term city-wide benefits for Canberra in terms of job creation, densification, economic development, greenhouse gas emissions reductions, reducing road congestion and providing an attractive alternative to cars.
Consultation has recently been underway for capital metro, seeking the community’s feedback on its early design. Of course, I note that Minister Corbell, as the minister responsible for capital metro, met with more than 300 local, national and international representatives at an industry briefing on 15 September. That highlights the interest from these groups in working on this project, and the confidence that the industry has in the ACT government to deliver it.
In order to facilitate the ACT’s first light rail proposal from Gungahlin to Civic and to establish a clear assessment path for future light rail proposals in the ACT, some detailed planning work needs to be undertaken and is, of course, well underway.
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