Page 198 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 11 February 2015
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We are also very committed to making sure there are employment opportunities within the Gungahlin town centre itself and that people have access to the range of services they need in their own town centre. In a very short while—a matter of months—the government will be proud to open our new ACT government office building on Gungahlin Place. This office will house over 600 ACT government staff, providing job opportunities in the Gungahlin town centre and helping to drive economic growth amongst the range of small businesses that are located in the town centre. This office will also hold the very first Access Canberra shopfront. This is important because it ensures that there is no wrong door for the people of Gungahlin when it comes to discussions with government. It is a one-stop shop for all of their ACT government needs.
The new office, though, will be more than just a hub for employment and access to government; there will be a 90-place childcare centre, cafe and retail space. The government’s investment will contribute to Gungahlin’s community space and create a real focal point for the community.
A core part of living in a strong community is access to quality health care. The government has been very proud to invest in the health of the Gungahlin community by building the Gungahlin Community Health Centre, an $18 million ACT government investment that is located in the middle of the town centre and integrated with the child and family centre. The community health centre offers a wide range of services to people in Gungahlin. This includes community nursing; allied health services, including physiotherapy and podiatry; dental surgeries for children and young people; and a range of services for women and children, including a women’s health nurse and a nutrition clinic.
Gungahlin has been Canberra’s fastest growing area for some time. All indications are that it will continue to be for some time into the future. This side of the chamber is very proud to support that growth. We will keep supporting it in the future with new transport investments, with new investments in critical infrastructure for the town centre and also, importantly, through working in partnership with the private sector to attract new investment into the town centre. It is exciting to hear from a large number of developers across a variety of development fields, who are indicating their desire to invest in the town centre because the government is committed to capital metro, because we will be delivering this enhanced transport service that is attracting new investment to the Gungahlin town centre. That is a great opportunity for Gungahlin.
The town centre, one of the first areas connected to the national broadband network, has an advantage over other areas of Canberra—indeed, over most other areas of Australia, as unfortunately the national broadband network rollout has hit a bit of a wall in tech-head Abbott who has got in the way of that important national project being rolled out, in this city in particular. It is an advantage for Gungahlin and, together with the transport infrastructure, will provide real opportunities for private sector investment in the town centre. The ACT government, by locating staff in the town centre, has recognised the importance of supporting that growth through our decisions and ensuring that public sector deployment is fairly distributed across the ACT.
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