Page 2038 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 6 June 2018

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(d) road improvements, including safer intersections, across the Territory;

(4) further notes the ACT Government is investing in a modern, convenient integrated public transport network; and

(5) calls on the Government to continue to:

(a) deliver core services that provide on-the-ground, tangible, everyday improvements that directly impact the lives of ACT residents; and

(b) engage ACT residents in determining what improvements are important for their communities.

As you have heard plenty of times in this place, because it is a pretty important fact, Canberra is growing. In fact, we are the second fastest growing population in Australia, and we are not stopping any time soon. Our population is predicted to reach 428,000 by 2020. I do not want to alarm anyone, but 2020 is just around the corner. Our city is expanding up and out as we build homes for our new residents and create new communities. Our inner city corridors and town centres are being infilled and densified and new suburban estates are coming online.

With this growth comes greater demand for city services. We need to make sure everyone’s rubbish is getting collected, that public transport is able to meet increased demand, and that new parklands and infrastructure are maintained. Of course, this is on top of the business-as-usual city services provided all around Canberra. It is a big task, but we are committing the funds to make sure the job gets done and is done well.

In the 2018 budget the ACT government is investing to maintain the public realm and provide municipal services to new communities across Canberra as well as stepping up existing services and renewing town centres. In short, there is more of everything. This year’s budget includes nearly $3.5 million to expand essential services to new Canberra homes in both infill developments and new suburban estates. A suburban estate demands a whole host of core services. It is easy to take these services for granted, but I think people would get quite a shock if these services ever stopped.

Take just a moment to think about your own suburb and all of the infrastructure you use every day: each time you get in your car, you use local roads and rely on traffic lights, road markings and signage to make sure you get to your destination safely; if you walk down to your local shops or park you probably use local footpaths and verges, and you expect the shops, parklands and playground equipment to be clean and safe; one night each week or fortnight you take your full rubbish and recycling bins to the kerb and know that they will be emptied the next morning; and if it rains, you know you can rely on stormwater infrastructure to keep your home from going under. It is quite a lot.

The ACT government is investing to make sure new homes in suburban estates or infill developments receive the municipal services that Canberrans across the ACT expect and to fund the ongoing maintenance of the public realm and community infrastructure.

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