Page 3471 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 22 August 2018
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government recognises the need to continue our older school upgrade program, to improve the energy efficiency of school buildings, and to improve the teaching and learning spaces for students and for teachers. This is an important long-term investment in our city’s future and ensures that we continue to provide world-class education no matter whether you live in a new suburb with a brand-new school or you live in one of the central parts of Canberra with some of our city’s original schools.
Another issue that people in my electorate raise with me is the need to continue to invest in the city’s municipal infrastructure, to ensure that we are continuing to invest in the quality of that infrastructure, upgrading infrastructure that in some parts of the Kurrajong electorate will be approaching 100 years of age. We have heard that feedback. That is why this year’s budget invests a further $10 million to step up city services. This includes some of the Chief Minister talkback favourites, such as mowing, weeding and graffiti management, as well as a range of important projects to improve our city’s waterways, lake and pond cleaning, and tree maintenance.
We know that the inner north and the inner south parts of Canberra contain a large number of deciduous trees. Through this part of the year there are a lot of leaves. We know that more street sweeping capability is important, and the government has invested in that. We know that people in the inner north and inner south particularly value their suburbs looking the best. People are continuing to see investment in city services as a very important part of the responsibilities of the territory government. That is why we have stepped up our investment in this area.
The budget also delivers more resources and facilities for community groups who are based in the Kurrajong electorate who provide specialist services for a range of Canberrans. I particularly acknowledge the investment, in partnership with Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service, to deliver culturally appropriate health services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Canberrans. This has resulted in a $12 million investment to construct a new health centre in Narrabundah which will be owned and managed by Winnunga. The delivery of targeted and effective services through this centre will help close the gap in health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Canberrans.
Similarly, through the budget we are delivering 36 more places for women seeking safety from violence at home, including through the Beryl women’s shelter. Making these kinds of investments is important as our city grows because they ensure that those in our community who are facing being disadvantaged do not fall behind.
Through a number of projects run by the City Renewal Authority, within the authority’s precinct from Dickson in the north, through a park in Braddon, into the city centre and down to the lake, we are seeing some important community engagement and also opportunities to activate some of these public spaces in ways that they have not been before. This has been incredibly well supported by the local community in the Kurrajong electorate, particularly by local businesses.
It is very pleasing to see the level of engagement there is with the City Renewal Authority in the Dickson precinct associated with the new bus interchange and the light rail coming to the area, together with significant private sector investment in
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