Page 3401 - Week 09 - Thursday, 24 August 2017
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Although Murrumbidgee residents will be aware of some of the budget’s key transport and city services items from press coverage. There are so many important projects across the board and it is the funding of these small but important measures that I want to touch upon today.
One of the Barr government’s central focuses this term is the renewal of our urban centres. In the budget, the government is continuing to build in this area through funding upgrades to many of the group centres across Canberra, particularly in Murrumbidgee. I am of course very delighted to see stage 2 of the upgrades to the Kambah village group centre funded in the budget. The $2 million will be invested to provide new toilets, an upgraded playground with shading and an extension of the central courtyard including new paving and seating areas. There will also be additional shade trees and deciduous plantings, along with a formalised waste collection shelter.
These build on stage 1 of the works which have recently been completed at the centre and have made a huge difference to the courtyard. We are already seeing the benefits of that translate through some of the private businesses there also upgrading their facades. Capital Chemist in particular has done a great job and we hope that, combined with the private developments happening at Kambah village, the whole centre will be transformed into something special, particularly with the upgrade and expansion of Woolies and with extra retail. Some shuffling of shops there has already started to occur, with the newsagent moving into the old TAB site. On behalf of the people of Kambah I applaud the government for these initiatives and I would like particularly to put on record my thanks to the minister and the government for working hard to deliver this commitment in the budget.
I know that many residents of my electorate, particularly those who live in Kambah, also use the Tuggeranong Hyperdome in Greenway for their shopping, and I am very supportive of the investment in this budget for upgrades to Anketell Street, including money for a raised pedestrian zone and a low-speed traffic environment, new on-road cycle lanes, tree replacements, improved lighting, street furniture and additional landscaping. I note Ms Lawder’s comments yesterday about wanting to see some more art in Anketell Street. I did find those comments ironic, I have to say, given the Liberals’ complete rejection of our public art program in the past.
Earlier this year the government hosted a Woden roundtable to talk about how we can spur urban renewal in Woden as well. I have been running a survey asking residents who live in Woden for feedback and suggestions about what they would like to see for Woden’s future. One of the most consistent things that I have been hearing from nearby residents is the need for more community facilities and improved community facilities in and around Woden. That is why I am very pleased that the government is improving access to community facilities in Woden in the budget, in addition to future planning for community facilities through the Territory Plan process.
The government is investing $1.5 million to move the ACT Heritage Library from the Woden library site to Fyshwick and that will enable us to retrofit the existing site to community learning facilities including venues that can be booked out by community groups and the public. I am sure that they will be well used, given today’s
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