Page 1570 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 10 May 2017
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extending from Gungahlin town centre, through Civic and on to the Woden town centre.
Construction is progressing well on stage 1 and a range of work is now being undertaken to support planning for stage 2. This includes establishing the light rail stage 2 project team within Transport Canberra, recruitment of project team resources and completion of a tender process for specialist advisory services. I am pleased to update the Assembly that all these advisers have now commenced and are providing technical and commercial advice, as well as undertaking the detailed transport modelling required in this critical planning phase.
This government undertook extensive community consultation as part of planning for the first stage of light rail and we will continue to build on this ongoing consultation process for stage 2 to Woden. Last year, following community feedback, Woden was selected as the preferred second stage for light rail. The government made that commitment in the election and Canberrans are now having a say on the route that the government will select.
Light rail to Woden involves crossing Lake Burley Griffin and potentially navigating the parliamentary triangle. Last week the Chief Minister and I launched the community consultation on the route and the alignment of the corridor. This consultation remains open for six weeks and will close on 11 June. Woden, as we know, is a key growth area in Canberra with an employment population of more than 120,000 by 2041 and almost 90,000 people expected to be living within one kilometre of the corridor from Civic to Woden. Light rail will support this growth and help to revitalise parts of Woden and its surrounding southern suburbs.
This will be the first of many opportunities the community will have to help inform the project. I encourage all Canberrans to have their say at yoursay.act.gov.au/LRS2.
MADAM SPEAKER: Just before I call Ms Orr: members of the opposition, you have been in conversation for the last two questions and it is quite distracting for the person asking and the person answering.
MS ORR: Minister, who will be able to be involved in the consultations, and what issues will be considered?
MS FITZHARRIS: It is noteworthy that the opposition are not listening to the question on consultation with the community, but who would be surprised about that?
The suggested routes being presented will be workshopped by community members and a range of stakeholders to ensure we get the best outcome for Canberrans who will use this service every day. This engagement will inform our technical and expert planning to determine the stage 2 route. Anyone who would like to have their say on stage 2 is invited to participate in the consultation process. Feedback can be provided online or in person at market stalls or community drop-in sessions or, indeed community council meetings, like the one that took place yesterday evening at the inner south community council.
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