Page 201 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 11 February 2015
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Planning for the Gungahlin town centre has also considered how public transport could be implemented, identifying Hibberson Street as an important route for current and future public transport. Of course, capital metro is an important part of the ACT government’s vision to deliver a truly sustainable and creative city, and it is an excellent example of how we are connecting Gungahlin to the rest of Canberra as part of the first stage of a reliable and fast mass public transport system.
I will go to some comments Mr Coe made earlier in his contribution to the debate in regard to the announcement of light rail for Canberra. He advised that the announcement was made in the government media room, with Simon Corbell, Katy Gallagher and Shane Rattenbury, post-election. However, if we do some research, on the ABC’s web page we will see that well before the announcement by the government there was a title by ABC media “Labor backs light rail”. It states:
ACT Labor is promising to build a light rail network through Canberra if it wins October’s election.
The first stage of the Capital Metro project would include a 12 kilometre light rail route linking Gungahlin and Civic.
It later says:
… it will establish the ACT’s first large-scale private sector partnership to plan, finance and develop the project.
There is some more comment from Mr Corbell, and then it has under the title “Time line concerns” that the Canberra Liberals “are yet to make any announcements around light rail and rapid public transport options for Gungahlin to the city”.
Capital metro is more than just a transport solution for Gungahlin. It will also transform part of our city by supporting and encouraging smarter land use and housing solutions on what is the fastest growing corridor in Canberra. It will connect people with a public transport system that puts them first, eases congestion, reduces pollution and improves the quality of life. Capital metro will also build on the work already being undertaken by the ACT government on light rail, integrated land use and transport planning. But, most importantly, it will create jobs over there in Gungahlin for the people all across Canberra.
MS FITZHARRIS (Molonglo) (5.17), in reply: Thank you to my colleagues who have supported this motion today, my first motion in this Assembly. As I said, I am pleased to move it about my local community. I thank Minister Corbell, the Chief Minister and Minister Gentleman for their support, and also I note Mr Coe’s comment that he has been interested in Gungahlin for a long time. But I also note that no other members of the Canberra Liberals from Molonglo spoke to this motion at all. I note that Mr Doszpot is in the chamber but the Canberra Liberals have taken such a strong interest in Gungahlin that none of their Molonglo members saw fit to come and speak to this motion.
This motion is not a wedge—
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