Page 3735 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 29 October 2014
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As a result, we have almost doubled the number of long day care places since we came to government. In the last year alone we have increased the number of places by 903, a 10 per cent increase in one year, and in the coming year we will see a further increase to a record number of 11,137 long day care places. In September 2013 there were 312 services under the national quality framework. In October of this year that increased to 325 services and by October next year we expect that growth to reach 337 services. This is just one example of how we on this side actively confront an issue facing the ACT and how we have worked with the community to put in place solutions for the long term.
It is one example but it is representative of this government’s approach to how we plan and make decisions for the ongoing prosperity of the city, and we will continue this approach. We will remain proactive in addressing the needs of this community now and into the future. We have an ambitious vision for this city, but it is a vision that is worthy of this community. It is a vision that includes improvement to our transport infrastructure and public transport, but it is not simply about that. Many of my colleagues have spoken this morning on transport. Our vision is also about delivering on health and education. It is a vision about providing the homes and urban environment that Canberrans want to live in, ensuring that the next generation of Canberrans have the skills and the jobs for the future.
It is clear that we have a plan for the city as a whole, for every Canberran. We have a vision for Gungahlin, for Belconnen, for the inner suburbs, for Woden and Weston Creek and for Tuggeranong. I am pleased to be a minister in a government that is getting on with delivering on these plans for the whole community—delivering on new schools in Gungahlin and the Molonglo Valley and upgrading existing schools across the ACT to ensure that our children have the best infrastructure for decades ahead.
I am very pleased to be a local member for Brindabella in this government that is putting important things in place for my community—projects such as the nurse-led walk-in centre, the new Southquay development and the Tuggeranong and Erindale master plans—and I am also very pleased that this government will be providing a campus in Tuggeranong for the Canberra Institute of Technology. Those planning matters will affect families across the ACT and will improve the amenity of Canberra, recognising that the preparation of a strategic planning framework for the development for our city centre through to 2013 is also important.
Launched in March this year, the city plan identifies five priority projects for immediate commencement, including a transport movement study, an urban design framework, an economic development analysis, the redevelopment of the Allawah, Bega and Currong flats and the city to the lake activities. We are aware that the strategy will also impact and integrate into transport for Canberra, the weathering the change action plan, the nature conservation strategy and striking the balance, the draft ACT water strategy of this year.
The master planning work for Tuggeranong and Erindale supports the urban renewal and transport policy priorities for this government. In supporting urban renewal
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