Page 4338 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 25 October 2017
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We are getting on with the job of delivering our significant suite of policies. I look forward to delivering on the rest of our commitments over the term for Murrumbidgee and for Canberra. I commend Ms Cody’s motion to the Assembly.
MS ORR (Yerrabi) (3.43): On 15 October 2017 the Ninth Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory turned one. It means that in the ACT we have just completed 12 months of having elected representatives dedicated to the area of Yerrabi. And in that sense it is well worth looking back on what has been achieved for the people of Gungahlin and north-eastern Belconnen over the first year of this expanded Assembly.
We are getting on with investing in Yerrabi schools. I have already spoken at length in this place about the ACT budget delivering $85 million in upgrading and expanding classrooms. Public school enrolments in the north of Canberra have grown by 53 per cent over the past five years. The bulk of that has occurred in my electorate of Yerrabi. The investment the ACT government is making in schools in Yerrabi will go a long way towards providing a world-class public education to the school children entering the second fastest growing region in the country.
We are investing in biodiversity. The ACT budget announced the expansion of the predator-proof fence around Mulligans Flat. The joint venture taking place behind these fences is reintroducing animals that have not been seen on the mainland in over 50 years, while also protecting the largest and most intact area of yellow box and red gum grassy woodland in Australia. All of this is taking place on the doorsteps of the suburbs of Forde and Throsby.
We are improving our transport system for the people of Yerrabi. Many of you would have been excited to see the recent laying of the first tracks of the Gungahlin to Civic light rail. This government is actively investing in public transport infrastructure to support an integrated transport solution that will take cars off the road, allowing a faster and safer commute for those who must or choose to drive.
We are planning for a more user-friendly Gungahlin town centre. The light rail terminal will be accompanied by a new shareway along Hibberson Street, allowing greater pedestrian access to businesses and the activation of existing public spaces.
We are working with the community to shape their local areas. In Yerrabi I have been fortunate to be afforded a great deal of freedom to pilot an engagement program in delivering on an ACT Labor election commitment to develop a community park for the wonderful people of Giralang. As part of this process we asked the community what they would like in their park, rather than asking whether they liked what we were proposing.
My team has been out doorknocking and surveying local residents, and the feedback is currently being used by University of Canberra landscape architect students to develop concepts for the design of the park. This will all come together at the end of this year when the Giralang community will be invited to a town hall-type meeting to
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