Page 833 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 20 March 2019
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I advised the community the day after I received advice that they could no longer meet the December time frame.
MISS C BURCH: Minister, given that you have now announced a commencement date for light rail caveated around accreditation, and that Canberrans have still not had any assurances about that accreditation process, how confident can you be that the light rail project will be accredited on time?
MS FITZHARRIS: Certainly Canberra Metro have advised that this is the date they expect to start operations. But I say again as I have said all along, this is a major project. It is still the case that a number of certifications need to be received, as is the case with any project. None of this is any different to any other major infrastructure project.
I have also said that when we have a date for the commencement of operations we will advise the community. Of course there may be unexpected or unanticipated things that arise that the regulators and certifiers would like further information on. I cannot be any clearer. I know where the opposition are going with this, but I have been very clear. It is a major project; there are risks.
As I said yesterday, we now have a date from Canberra Metro and we can advise the community of this hugely significant day for our city. We now have a date that we are planning for the launch of light rail, that is, Saturday, 20 April.
Woden town centre—renewal
MS CODY: My question is to the Minister for City Services. Minister, can you outline how the Woden experiment is helping to rejuvenate the town centre?
MR STEEL: I thank Ms Cody for her question and note her genuine interest in the future of Woden town centre. It is great to see the town centre going through a period of regeneration. Previously empty, abandoned federal public service buildings are being transformed into new mixed-use developments. It is really coming to life following the federal Liberal government’s cuts to the public service.
Our government is focused on creating really great quality public spaces in our town centre. That is the key focus of the Woden experiment in the town square, a very significant investment by the ACT government to transform this often windy and challenging space into a vibrant place for people to spend their time.
The upgraded square has brand-new furniture, with a mix of lounge chairs, hammocks, tables and even charging stations for your devices, plus flexible table settings next to areas set aside for pop-up food and drink vendors, turf areas with sun lounges, and outdoor table tennis facilities for a bit of fun as well. There is also more green space, with both artificial and irrigated grass areas and tree plantings, complemented by a nature play area, providing a more natural feel to the middle of the town centre.
There is a workshop available to be booked, which provides a great opportunity to get out of the office and into the square. A community hub room can also be booked,
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