Page 858 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 25 July 1989
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In addition, the ACT Housing Trust expects to start construction of 194 new dwellings, commence major upgrades of five of the trust's flat complexes, continue the redevelopment of Ainslie Village and upgrade 120 rental dwellings. This program, along with the completion of houses under construction and the spot purchase program, will add an additional 280 dwellings to the housing stock in 1989-90.
The Government also plans to redevelop the Melba Flats over a four-year period, commencing in 1989-90. This will involve the demolition of the existing flats and redevelopment of the site for new housing and the construction or acquisition of further public housing to replace Melba Flats.
Details of the redevelopment of Melba Flats will be provided in the budget in September, following further consultation with the Commonwealth and with the existing tenants.
Major plant and equipment for budget dependent agencies is also funded from the capital budget. A significant increase in funding is to be provided to the ACT Community and Health Service to assist in overcoming past neglect in the replacement and upgrading of outdated equipment.
Funding will also be made available to permit ACTION to take delivery of 49 buses in 1989-90. These will replace part of its older stock and help meet the demands for services in new suburbs.
Mr Speaker, I would like now to outline the Government's plans to seek release of the estimated $22.7m which the Commonwealth is placing in the ACT transitional funding trust account. The Government has identified a number of proposals which we intend to put to the Commonwealth for release of this money.
In keeping with the agreement I negotiated with the Prime Minister, each of these initiatives have been developed with the aim of restructuring our services to reduce recurrent spending in the future. The proposals cover the areas of education, health and urban services.
Specific education proposals include the introduction of new technology worth $1.5m in TAFE classrooms to promote efficiency and learning. It is also proposed to relocate TAFE's electrical school from Benjamin Way to new premises on the Bruce campus as part of TAFE's campus restructuring program.
In the health area we are proposing the overhaul of food production methods in ACT hospitals to achieve more efficient food preparation as well as the elimination of overproduction and waste.
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