Page 5199 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 29 November 2017
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In 2018-19 our government is delivering on our commitment to balance the budget. As our government knows, a balanced budget does not have to come at the expense of public services. Our government is a sound economic manager. Investment in infrastructure, funding public goods and creating jobs is economically responsible and will always be a priority of a Labor government.
Just like our economy, our city’s population is continuing to grow as more and more people choose to make Canberra their home. It is expected that over the next four years our city will increase in population by 25,000 people. The Cotter-Namadgi region will see the biggest increase in population—by almost 140 per cent—with new suburbs like Riverview, Coombs and Denman Prospect.
My local area of Gungahlin will also see huge growth, with suburbs like Crace increasing in population by 19 per cent. Already Gungahlin is the second fastest growing jurisdiction in Australia, with 71,000 residents, up from 47,000 in 2011. This growth is not without its challenges.
Our infrastructure projects must be built with the future of Canberra in mind. To prepare for this growth, our government is building new schools and increasing the capacity of existing ones in our growth corridors. In the 2017 budget, on top of the $1.2 billion spent on Canberra schools, the government invested an extra $210 million for school upgrades. Within that, there is $85 million to upgrade existing school infrastructure.
The capacity of schools in Gungahlin is being increased, with extra space at Harrison School, Gold Creek School, Neville Bonner Primary School and Palmerston District Primary School. New schools are being planned in north and east Gungahlin as well as in Molonglo Valley. This funding will ensure capacity in the years to come as more and more Canberrans need access to our fantastic school system.
As Canberra grows, opportunities for Canberrans grow with it. This government is investing in our city’s future with new transport options, health facilities, renewable energy and research. 2017 was a big year for infrastructure in Canberra. Light rail is a fundamental shift in the way our city views public transport.
Stage 1 will reduce congestion in the northern corridor and reduce our reliance on cars. Stage 2 will bring the benefits of light rail to more Canberrans. In conjunction with light rail, our government has upgraded our existing bus network with new routes for a more cohesive transport plan. These new rapid buses announced this year will ensure a more frequent and effective bus system. Once light rail is completed, more buses will be available throughout the network. This will ensure that Canberra does not become a gridlocked city such as we see in other Australian capitals.
Canberra is already home to two world-class universities that bring students as well as investment to our city. The memorandum of understanding between the ACT government and UNSW to create an extra 10,000 places at a new campus in Reid will bring a further boost to our city. This is expected to occur over the next three years.
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