Page 84 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 24 May 1989
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Floriade will become an annual event and be enlarged as a focus for a spring festival in Canberra. Private sponsorship is being sought to stage this horticultural, entertainment and cultural event in Commonwealth Park. Last year Floriade attracted more than 100,000 people, and it is expected to be an even greater drawcard for both residents and tourists this year.
We will begin immediately to formulate an integrated transport strategy which will assess the ACT's future needs. This will be done with full public consultation. My department will be reviewing arrangements for traffic and public transport access to ensure that Civic can play its proper role as the main centre for business, retailing, culture and recreation so that its full potential is realised. We will examine ways to encourage car pooling and environmentally clean forms of public transport.
A good public transport system is important, and we are committed to the continued operation of ACTION. Bus services to new suburbs, especially into the Tuggeranong Valley, will be provided as needed. On Monday of this week new services commenced into the suburb of Theodore, and others will follow. The opening of stage 1 of the Tuggeranong bus depot in August, plus stage 2 of the depot and the town centre bus station in the middle of next year, will allow ACTION to support better all proposed developments in Tuggeranong. There is a need for services to operate on an express basis from the suburbs to Civic, and city express services will commence in the first half of next year.
Canberra has a relatively good road safety record. This is due in part to our road system. However, the attitudes of the users of our roads play a very important role. I will be giving particular emphasis to road safety education in our schools. I have asked my department to ensure that students from kindergarten to year 10 are included in road safety programs. Bicycle and rider training is important for younger children, and I have asked that the possibility of running courses on driving for students in year 10 be examined.
I also intend to look at ways of improving the skill of drivers and motorcycle riders, and I have asked for proposals for motorcycle rider training courses which would be compulsory before learners received permits. We will consider a new system of graduated licensing for drivers and riders along the lines adopted in some States, with the aim of providing our young people with more experience under the supervision of older drivers.
Good access to and from the ACT is important to the development of our tourism industry and for the convenience and safety of our residents. We will initiate early discussions with the NSW Government about the condition of access roads to the ACT, particularly the King's Highway to the coast.
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