Page 2777 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 6 October 2021
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DR PATERSON: I have a supplementary question. Minister, what benefits will this important project bring to the Canberra community?
MR STEEL: There are many benefits, and I am always happy to talk about the benefits of this important project for Canberra. It will deliver over 6,000 jobs in taking light rail from the city to Woden in the construction sector, and many more indirect jobs during its delivery. But the benefits of light rail to Woden do not stop at construction. Extending light rail will help create frequent and reliable transport that better connects our major town centres and residential and employment hubs, as well as our recreational hubs along the way.
As our city grows, light rail is providing Canberra’s first mass transit system, moving large numbers of people more efficiently using a dedicated right of way. One light rail vehicle can carry 256 people, which is the equivalent of five buses, and it can be expanded in the future when we need it. It will extend the benefits that we have seen in stage 1 to other parts of Canberra, giving people on the south side more transport options. Light rail stage 1 has been incredibly successful. We have seen the benefits of that project, with more people choosing to use public transport—much more than was expected in the 2014 business case for light rail stage 1. And the city-shaping benefits along that corridor have been considerable: again, we have seen more people moving in than we predicted in the business case back then. Light rail will also improve the sustainability of our transport system; it runs on 100 per cent renewable electricity, making it one of the cleanest options for getting around.
I acknowledge that we have more work to do make sure that these and other benefits are realised through this project. That is why we committed, again, in light rail stage 2A to a benefits realisation plan, as we did in stage 1. This is a very important process, and we will work to get delivery underway as soon as possible with the next stages of the project.
MR PETTERSSON: I have a supplementary question. Minister, can you please outline the project’s next steps.
MR STEEL: We are progressing stakeholder engagement for the whole of light rail to Woden. The immediate next steps in the project relate to raising London Circuit to create an upgraded intersection with Commonwealth Avenue. Enabling utility works are a prerequisite for delivering this project, and we will see the key utilities being relocated from their current position on London Circuit to Edinburgh Avenue, Constitution Avenue and Vernon Circle. This work just kicked off in the last fortnight. The compounds are up. There is work just metres away from the Assembly. We expect this part of the project will be completed early in the New Year.
We are also working collaboratively with the NCA, and we expect to submit a works approval application soon. There will be an opportunity for members of the public to provide comment during the public exhibition component of this process. The request for expressions of interest is in the market and closes on 14 October. Major Projects Canberra will evaluate the responses and shortlist the providers, which will then be invited to participate through a request for tender process later in the year. We expect
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