Page 2883 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 14 August 2018
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overall will also provide $2 million over two years for increased signage and connections for our off-road bikeway network.
The government is committed to continuing investment in active travel initiatives to improve the health and wellbeing of all Canberrans. Canberra is Australia’s most active community, with a larger share of Canberrans commuting by walking or cycling than anywhere else in the country. We have committed to invest an additional $30 million in active travel infrastructure over the life of this parliamentary term, and this year’s budget delivers on the government’s promise. The budget will also allow the popular active streets for schools program to expand to an additional 50 schools over the next five years and will complete the Heysen Drive, Lyons, to Weston Creek cyclepath link, a vital link in the region.
As those across from me would be aware, the government seeks to become a world leader in animal welfare and management. The government has put in place the necessary arrangements to achieve this through updated and contemporary legislation, extra staffing resources, comprehensive and rigorous governance processes and a process to build the capacity and capability of the domestic animal services team.
The budget further supports this by providing additional funding for two more rangers, ensuring we achieve our goal of becoming a leader in animal welfare. It will also help fund the delivery of a pet census and survey to estimate the ACT’s pet population and the expansion of the voucher system to subsidise cat desexing, and support the existing service funding agreement with the RSPCA for the provision of animal welfare services and the RSPCA’s important inspectorate services.
Identified as a key priority of the Woden town centre master plan, funding has been provided in this budget to undertake pedestrian and cycling accessibility improvements in the Woden town centre. This will include the design and construction of a new separated cycleway and verge improvements along Corinna Street, a new shared path ramp, path widening, and wayfinding signage on networks and connections in the area.
The government acknowledges the importance of investing in the renewal of all our town centres and in community-led activations to create livelier public spaces. The government is also paying particular attention to delivering better city services by delivering tidier suburbs with more trees and parks, playgrounds and public spaces for our community to enjoy.
Not only are we focusing on providing better city services across our existing suburbs; we are also funding new city services in newer suburbs to help the needs of our growing population. Each year as our city grows, the ACT increases its urban footprint with new suburbs and redevelopments. In the previous financial year significant development occurred in the suburbs of Lawson, Denman Prospect and Throsby and along the Northbourne Avenue corridor. Funding of $10.27 million has been provided in this budget to support the maintenance of assets associated with the growth of our city. Assets typically created as a result of greenfield development include road pavements, stormwater, street lighting, traffic signals, road markings and
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