Page 3781 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 29 October 2014

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(a) the favourable cost benefit ratio for the project;

(b) that it is an important element of the Government’s Transport for Canberra plan as a key link between Gungahlin and central Canberra;

(d) that the ACT Government continues to hold discussions with key stakeholders in relation to preparing for and managing impacts on the road network throughout various stages of construction;

(e) that, as part of a Working Group including the National Capital Authority and the Canberra Airport, the ACT Government will continue to assess the need for, and plan for, transport improvements to northern and east-west connections to the Majura Parkway in the context of the initial stages of light rail, a revised ACTION bus network, the Airport Master Plan, active transport options, and other developments, e.g. IKEA; and

(f) that the latest traffic assessment in this area shows that Fairbairn Avenue is expected to function adequately upon opening of the completed Majura Parkway in 2016 but, with future traffic growth, improvements to some sections may be required in the subsequent five to 10 year period.”.

MS GALLAGHER (Molonglo—Chief Minister, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Health and Minister for Higher Education) (4.02): I indicate that we will be supporting Minister Rattenbury’s amendment today. The 11½-kilometre Majura parkway will connect the Monaro Highway with the Federal Highway. The project has been included in the ACT territory plan since the 1970s and from a national perspective it will be an important freight route.

The ACT government and the federal government agreed to a shared fifty-fifty funding arrangement to build the $288 million Majura parkway. I think this was a very generous offer from the ACT government, considering the national importance of the Majura parkway.

From a regional perspective the parkway will provide better access to the Canberra Airport. It will also provide a transport hub for the region and add to the capacity of the main road network. The government is working with councils in the region to promote business, tourism and higher education opportunities, and this road will certainly improve transport access to the regions surrounding the ACT.

As those who drive in that area will know, construction works are currently underway at the northern and southern end of the project to allow for the embankment construction of a bridge over the Molonglo River and Fairbairn Avenue, and to replace an arch bridge at the northern end of the project. In fact I was just out there at lunch today. The bridge is coming along very fast, considering the last time I had seen it some two weeks ago.

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