Page 3704 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 23 October 2013

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parts of the city centre. However, until now there has not been a single overarching strategic framework that sets out a clear plan for the future.

The city plan will do this by setting a vision and a spatial framework for future development of the city centre as an important local, regional and national place. The framework will help illustrate a number of initiatives the government and private sector are proposing and how we can work together to create a vibrant and liveable city centre. The plan looks at how growth and change can happen across the city and identifies ways to achieve this change while keeping its natural settings in line with Griffin’s plan 100 years ago.

The plan will help determine development and growth and ensure projects and infrastructure are delivered efficiently and effectively. It aims to unlock the potential of Canberra CBD and better integrate it with public transport, residential buildings, surrounding parklands and educational institutions. Local, national and international interest in the city will be stimulated, attracting business and visitors and boosting the economy, vibrancy and liveability of the city.

The government is focused on increasing the residential population of the city centre to deliver a day and night economy. This requires changes to the way the city operates and moves at all times of the day. By removing the barriers that make it hard for people to access the whole of the city centre, including accessing the lake, we will open up opportunities to develop and revitalise the city centre to make places like City Hill Park people-friendly places.

This draft plan has been jointly funded by the ACT and Australian governments under the liveable cities program and we are providing in-kind resources to the commonwealth’s $500,000 grant. We hope that people do get involved in the consultation and I look forward to releasing the final city plan before the end of this year.

MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Dr Bourke.

DR BOURKE: Chief Minister, what are the key elements of the plan?

MS GALLAGHER: There are six main elements, strategic themes, to the plan. The first is growth, one that looks at a vibrant centre that stimulates business, education, living, entertaining and recreation. The second area is land use and development, a prosperous and dynamic mix of uses and activities that build character. The third is transport and movement, looking at how we can connect the city through both transport and people, making sure it is easy to get in and around. With public realm and design, we have seen already, in some of the improvements to public realm that have happened in the city in the last couple of years, what a difference it has made and how it does attract people to those places. Community infrastructure looks at all of the different needs that we have across the city, and also there is strengthening the character of the city, making it a clear presence, an enhanced presence, through the changes outlined in this plan.


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