Page 1040 - Week 03 - Thursday, 26 February 2009
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Of course, the capital upgrades program will be subject to the usual Assembly scrutiny processes as part of the 2009-10 budget. This government will, however, be undertaking as much of the planning and design components as is possible, so that we are ready to hit the proceed button as soon as the budget is passed. And industry will know now where we will focus our capital upgrade effort for 2009-10, so it, too, can plan its resources with a better degree of certainty.
I turn to some of the individual initiatives in the bill. We have allocated $7.6 million for a range of upgrade works at our schools, including $2.4 million for stage 1 of the replacement of stormwater and sewer pipes; $2 million for roof access systems; and $3.2 million to enhance the asbestos removal program. This work complements that which will be funded under the commonwealth’s nation building and jobs plan, and will cover both primary and secondary schools.
We are providing an additional $2.7 million to the CIT, allowing the institute to expedite a range of capital upgrades projects at its Reid, Bruce and Fyshwick campuses to improve training facilities and amenities. We are providing $2.2 million for the stormwater augmentation program; $2.1 million for pavement and footpath upgrades; $500,000 for additional park signage and road safety message signs; $400,000 for additional bill poster silos in the city and district shopping centres; and $200,000 for the design and construction of a performance stage at the Tuggeranong town park.
We are providing $750,000 for further works at the Canberra International Arboretum and Gardens and $160,000 for a range of minor upgrades at Exhibition Park in Canberra and bringing forward $300,000 to fast-track works at Stromlo forest park. We are providing almost $900,000 for necessary minor works and upgrades at the Canberra Hospital, including the pharmacy cool room upgrade and expansion of the oncology clinic and cancer services facilities, along with a range of safety upgrades.
We have allocated $2½ million towards a joint ACT-commonwealth initiative to reduce homelessness in the territory. This is part of a national partnership that we have entered into with the federal government under the COAG reform agenda. This funding will provide for the immediate purchase of 10 blocks of land, accelerating the delivery of dwellings with tailored support to enable families to sustain longer term tenancies in mainstream public housing.
We are providing $415,000 for upgrades to a number of our arts, heritage and cultural facilities, including the Manuka Arts Centre, the Canberra Theatre, Lanyon Homestead, Calthorpes’ House and Mugga Mugga.
In recognition of developments recently in the childcare sector, we are providing $435,000 to progress the design of two new childcare centres in west Belconnen and Weston Creek, along with the essential preliminary planning and design work for the renovation and extension of a number of childcare centres at other sites. We have also provided $2.1 million for energy efficiency upgrades, renovations and refurbishments to a number of community and childcare facilities across Canberra.
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