Page 936 - Week 03 - Thursday, 19 March 2015
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world’s biggest builders of light rail vehicles; the Plenary Group, who have overseen $9 million worth of projects in Australia; Downer EDI, Canberra’s largest civil construction firm, which has been delivering projects in the territory for 30 years; and Cox Architecture, who have designed iconic buildings in this city, around Australia and the region. Between them, the companies in ACTivate have built, managed and run a range of major projects, including light rail in Adelaide and on the Gold Coast, as well as Yarra Trams, and in Dijon and Bordeaux in France as well as projects in Canada and Turkey.
The members that make up the Canberra Metro bid are just as impressive and include: the Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi, Japan’s largest bank; Leighton contractors, one of Australia’s leading infrastructure companies; and John Holland, who construct railways and maintain transport infrastructure around the country. These companies are world leaders in delivering and operating rail projects like the north-west rail link and the inner west light rail extension in Sydney, Stockholm light rail and the London Overground.
Light rail will be a transformational project for our city. I am confident that both of these bidding consortia have the skills and experience to deliver this transformation. We are continuing our work consulting with the community to help us shape this change in our city. We are asking the community what they want in a better transport system, how light rail will look, the landscaping and shape of the light rail corridor, the walking and cycling options that Canberrans want, what they would like in their light rail stops and what they want them to look like. These are important and significant infrastructure priorities for a better transport system for Canberra. (Time expired.)
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Dr Bourke.
DR BOURKE: Chief Minister, what are the economic benefits to the territory of the capital metro project?
MR BARR: The project not only reshapes our city; it is a significant investment in our economy. It will expand the economic productivity of our city, create jobs and increase diversity and the sustainability of our local economy. During the construction stage alone, the project will support around 3½ thousand jobs. These are jobs that will be filled by Canberrans—from Melba to Monash, from Gilmore to Gowrie, from Charnwood to Chisholm.
Opposition members interjecting—
MR BARR: I know that creating jobs is something that the Liberal Party find abhorrent. They can never support a Labor government creating jobs and supporting jobs in this city, but that is not going to stop this government from investing in the infrastructure that this city needs—infrastructure that supports our long-term economic development and also ensures that Canberra is a better place to live.
For every dollar that we invest in our transportation systems, not only do we reduce congestion and give people more time to spend with their families but we are also
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