Page 2789 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 6 October 2021
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2014 light rail business case with stage 1. So I think it is reasonable to assume that there is going to be some city-shaping benefits with this stage 2 extension.
We actually think the benefits of stage 2A are small in comparison with the extension to Woden, which is what we are intending to do to maximise the benefits. And there will be further city-shaping benefits as part of that, particularly in the Woden town centre. Indeed, we are already starting to see that occur even before the light rail project starts construction, off the back of our government being committed to it. It is very clear that the Liberals are not.
MR PARTON: Minister, what specific evidence and analysis have you seen to justify the assumption that Acton’s development is dependent on light rail, and will you table that evidence?
MR STEEL: That is provided in the business case, that analysis of the benefits, both in terms of the city-shaping benefits and also in relation to what we expect around wider economic benefits. But, importantly, the business case looks at a whole different range of scenarios to test what those assumptions might be, in terms of excluding wider economic benefits and with them—there are a whole range of BCR numbers in there to look at the different permutations, if you exclude certain benefits. Ultimately the government has made the decision to get on with this project because we think this is important for Canberra’s future in providing a mass transit system that is sustainable and that connects our city from north to south. We are committed to making sure we deliver it to Woden. And the stage 2A business case of the project should be seen as just that—a stepping stone to get us to Woden. We are committed to it, and you are not.
MR DAVIS: Minister, can you assure my constituents in Brindabella that the government’s long-term ambition is to connect all Canberrans to a city-wide light rail network, particularly the Tuggeranong town centre?
MR STEEL: I thank Mr Davis for his question. Yes, we want to see the transport benefits for our city. And that is why we have outlined the light rail master plan, demonstrating future connections of our light rail network to places like Belconnen and Kippax through to the airport as well as places like Tuggeranong. And when we deliver light rail stage 2 it will benefit people in Gungahlin as much as it will benefit many people in Woden. There are many people in Gungahlin who work in the Parliamentary Triangle, who need to go through Barton. They will be using this route. There will be many people connecting from buses in Calwell and Wanniassa who will be connecting with light rail to go into work in the city as well.
So we expect that this extension for stage 2 will benefit all Canberrans through our integrated public transport network, connecting with buses and other modes of transit like e-scooters and like active travel.
Light rail—stage 2 economic analysis
MR HANSON: My question is to the Minister for Transport and City Services. Minister, I refer to the Auditor-General’s report on the economic analysis of the light
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