Page 1518 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 4 May 2016
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An ageing population will have a range of economic, social and fiscal implications for the ACT. However, it is important to recognise that an ageing population also presents new and exciting opportunities for the territory. In this context active ageing represents opportunities for older people to continue to work, stay healthy for longer and contribute to our community.
As a government we acknowledge the effects of ageing in the ACT and are exploring some of the policy issues arising from those effects. The ACT active ageing framework 2015-18 was developed following extensive community engagement with hundreds of seniors in 2014 and 2015. A framework and associated action plan set out very clearly the ACT government’s guiding principles and priorities for seniors. They provide guidance to ACT government directorates and require them to incorporate active ageing principles into mainstream policies such as health, transport, employment, housing and social inclusion. I am confident that the implementation of the framework and the initiatives outlined in the associated action plan over the next three years will bear many positive benefits for seniors and the Canberra community alike, now and into the future.
This government is committed to delivering the key objectives outlined in the plan. A key focus for the government is the implementation of the initiative contained in the action plan which seeks to investigate the possibility of vertical seniors accommodation being developed close to shops and other vital services and facilities. This key initiative complements the ACT government’s commitment to make Canberra a more age-friendly city and will inform the best configuration of accommodation to meet the needs of seniors into the future.
This initiative will also complement the work currently being undertaken by the Territory and Municipal Services Directorate in implementing the age-friendly suburbs project, delivering a program of age-friendly improvements in the suburbs of Ainslie, Weston, Monash and Kaleen. The age-friendly active travel improvements at Ainslie and Weston are part of this $750,000 age-friendly suburbs project. The project will deliver a program of active travel infrastructure and open space improvements to the four pilot suburbs over a two-year period.
The Territory and Municipal Services Directorate has identified the suburbs of Ainslie and Weston to trial infrastructure improvements with a view to implementing similar improvements across Canberra in the future. These are likely to include construction of new pathways, lighting in some underpasses, provision of safer road crossing facilities and the provision of seating at locations adjacent to community facilities. These age-friendly improvements for Ainslie and Weston are to be constructed by the end of June 2016. Improvements for the suburbs of Monash and Kaleen will be designed and constructed in the 2016-17 financial year.
The ACT government continues to champion Canberra as an age-friendly city, incorporating design features and housing options that encourage older people to remain physically and socially active, to maintain a healthy lifestyle, to be socially engaged and to explore opportunities that will provide new life experiences as our seniors age.
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