Page 4200 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 21 September 2011

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Transport—rail services

MS BRESNAN (Brindabella) (3.24): I move:

That this Assembly:

(1) notes:

(a) there are considerable opportunities to advance rail services in the ACT, including light rail, high speed rail, rail freight, and regional rail;

(b) that the federal government is currently conducting a strategic study of an east coast high speed rail network, including consideration of which stages of the route will be prioritised;

(c) that in 2008, the government submitted a bid for a light rail network to Infrastructure Australia, but has not progressed the development of light rail any further;

(d) rail freight is declining in the ACT and being replaced by road freight;

(e) rail services exist from Canberra to Cooma and Bungendore which have potential for improvement; and

(f) each of light rail, high speed rail, an increased proportion of rail freight and improved regional rail services, would bring significant benefits to the ACT region, including environmental, social, economic, and travel benefits; and

(2) calls upon the ACT government to:

(a) immediately begin consulting with the Canberra public about the alternative high speed rail routes in and out of Canberra and the potential locations for a Canberra high speed rail station;

(b) by the end of 2011, present a high speed rail network proposal to the federal government which:

(i) makes a case for the prioritised construction of the Canberra stages of the route; and

(ii) details how the ACT government will facilitate the planning and staging of the routes and the high speed rail station;

(c) immediately start developing detailed plans for a light rail network in all key transport corridors of Canberra (including from Civic to Gungahlin, Belconnen, Tuggeranong and Fyshwick);

(d) develop a revised bid for light rail in Canberra and present it to Infrastructure Australia by 30 June 2012;


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