Page 3845 - Week 10 - Thursday, 27 August 2009

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was exceeded by 131. This is a significant increase on the previous record of 3,470 sites which was delivered in 2007-08.

Infrastructure projects to support land release, including trunk road and intersection upgrades at Crace and Bonython West, were practically and/or physically completed during 2008-09. A range of forward design studies were significantly progressed or completed for new infrastructure at Bonner, Lawson and Casey. This government is committed to ensuring that our land release program can continue as planned, moving forward.

Significant upgrades and improvements continued to be made on the roads and car parks, resulting in better traffic conditions and road safety. In 2008-09, 33 territory roads and 180 municipal streets and car parks were resealed. This equates to over 870,000 square metres of resurfacing completed in the territory last year. In addition, almost 62 kilometres of new community footpaths were completed. A number of significant new roads projects have also been delivered, including the duplication of Athllon Drive, stage 1 of the Lanyon Drive upgrade, and rehabilitation of sections of Cotter Road.

There is no doubt that improved recreational and lifestyle opportunities are an important element to the continued health and wellbeing of the community. To ensure that opportunities are provided to Canberrans to promote fitness, recreation and healthy lifestyles we have continued with the development, upgrade and maintenance of sporting facilities, parks, urban open spaces and public places across Canberra.

We made significant progress or finalised a range of projects, including the “where will we play” program, to ensure the continued viability of outdoor sporting facilities, the Lyneham sporting precinct, the Harrison district playing fields, the refurbishment of the Tuggeranong leisure centre, the replacement of the air dome at the Canberra Olympic Pool and plantings and access upgrades at Stromlo forest park.

Substantial improvements have also been made to neighbourhood parks and tree-lined streets. The neighbourhood park and street replacement programs provided for the planting of over 1,000 new trees and the removal of 335 dead or severely drought affected trees. An additional 497 trees were also planted adjacent to the bike path at Yerrabi Pond. Other significant infrastructure achievements in 2008-09 include further restoring and enhancing Tidbinbilla nature reserve and the development of the predator-free sanctuary at Mulligan’s Flat.

Public safety remains an important priority for the community, and during 2008-09 we have seen the completion of upgrades to our Emergency Services and ACT Policing facilities across the city, and the continued rollout of CCTV at high-risk sites. Feasibility studies were also completed in 2008-09 for the future location of Emergency Services stations and for a new Supreme Court.

Most notably, as I have already mentioned, there has been the delivery of two major correctional and justice facilities for the territory—the Alexander Maconochie Centre and the Bimberi Youth Justice Centre. These facilities have been developed and operate promoting human rights principles in the management and rehabilitation of adult and adolescent offenders.


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