Page 2064 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 6 June 2018

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(g) the Program has delivered six quarterly forums with 530 people in attendance in total. In addition, 225 people in total have participated in workshops and round tables;

(h) the Program also makes regular briefings and educational presentations to individuals, Centre Managers, Business Reference groups and other public forums; and

(i) focused business support has been provided including:

(i) installing new temporary signage around the construction zone to direct pedestrians to local businesses;

(ii) social media promotion involving producing and hosting video clips of individual local businesses; banners and promotional signage;

(iii) contracting local businesses as preferred providers for event catering, flu immunisation and participant rewards, eg free coffee at a local cafe for attending the light rail tour; and

(iv) removing fencing as soon as possible to allow for improved pedestrian amenity and street appeal;

(2) further notes that major light rail construction works in Hibberson Street Gungahlin are complete, the Gungahlin Bus Station is operating with landscaping to be completed in June, and other works on the Hibberson Street shared zone will be completed in August; and

(3) calls on the ACT Government to:

(a) continue to support the LRBL Program until light rail stage one is operating;

(b) undertake an assessment of the impact of all construction activities on local businesses and report back in September 2018;

(d) coordinate and support a Gungahlin Street Party event to advertise and celebrate the completion of light rail and other works in the Gungahlin Town Centre; and

(e) support a Gungahlin Town Centre precinct activation and broader marketing strategy which encourages locals to shop locally and visitors to increase their spending in the Gungahlin.”.

I thank you for the opportunity today to talk with members of the Assembly about the unprecedented investments the ACT government is making in the town centre, and to outline what work the government has provided and how it will continue to support local businesses during light rail construction. I note Mr Milligan’s remarks, and also note what I believe to be an agreed amendment to the motion. That motion is circulated, and I moved that amendment.

As has been noted, in addition to the light rail terminus in the Gungahlin town centre, which just in the last 24 hours has seen even more progress towards completion, the government is investing in the construction of a new bus station and upgrades to key intersections, including important new traffic lights. As well, the government is creating a new shared zone for Hibberson Street—one that has come after many years

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