Page 4216 - Week 13 - Thursday, 27 November 2014
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MS PORTER (Ginninderra) (3.46): The ACT government is investing in Canberra at a time when it is needed the most. A major part of this investment is our infrastructure program, amounting to a record $2.5 billion over the next four years. This is more than any other previous ACT government has committed. In addition we are investing in other initiatives dedicated to stimulating business worth close to $70 million. This record capital works spend by an ACT government reflects our commitment to growing our economy and delivering high quality and transformative infrastructure for the community.
As we all know, transforming Canberra through major infrastructure projects will generate jobs for Canberrans, stimulate the ACT economy and help lessen the impact of the commonwealth budget cuts announced in May this year. Of course, we daily hear of more blows to our economy and to our growth, and just recently it has been mentioned that a number of commonwealth departments may be moving from this place to another state.
Investing in infrastructure will also continue to revitalise the city as we move into our second century and ensure we are prepared to meet the economic, social and environmental challenges of the future. Infrastructure investment and delivery remain a key government priority to ensure our community is well prepared to meet the economic, social and environmental challenges of Canberra’s second century.
Within the 2014-15 infrastructure investment program announced as part of the 2014-15 budget, the government made allowance for a record level of capital investment across the next four years of $2.5 billion, as I said. This investment in major infrastructure is setting the foundation for improving productivity and addressing the shifting needs of our community as we look to diversify our economic base, attract investment, boost growth and create employment for the region. These projects will help progress the government’s four priority areas, being making Canberra healthy and smart, growing the economy, enhancing livability and opportunity, and investing in urban renewal.
The demographic profile of the ACT continues to change, as we would expect. The ACT’s population is projected to reach approximately 680,000 people by 2062. It presently stands at 386,000. During the 12 months to 31 March 2014, the population grew by an additional 5,461 people at a growth rate of 1.4 per cent. This growth in population, which will require the city to continue to expand and increase in density, has a number of infrastructure planning implications. The expansion of the city into greenfield areas requires additional infrastructure to service the needs of new residents. Education and healthcare facilities, community and recreation facilities, public transport provision as well as new group and local centres to provide urban amenity are all needed.
At the same time Canberra has an ageing population, particularly in the established suburbs. This requires infrastructure to adapt to suit the needs of older residents, while also providing opportunities and facilities for younger residents. It is not too long ago, I would reflect, that we used to call Tuggeranong nappy valley. Now of course the
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