Page 1446 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 6 May 2015
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brings. Light rail, it concluded, was the best choice for responding to projected growth and it also has the capacity to significantly transform the corridor through land development uplift.
Despite Mr Coe’s belief that a sizeable chunk of the population is opposed to the project, what Mr Coe should acknowledge is that it is clear that a majority of Canberrans support it. We appreciate that not everybody does, but that is not unusual for large infrastructure projects that involve light rail. However, detailed market research prepared by a highly experienced and reputable local research firm indicates that over half of Canberrans are in support of the project. Notably, the project is most supported by those under 30, the people who will see the benefit most over the longer term, with 69 per cent in support. But there is also majority support from people aged 30 to 45 and 46 to 64. This report is publicly available.
Further to this statistically valid research, sentiment recorded in face-to-face activities during the Capital Metro Agency’s last round of community consultation in January indicated that 58 per cent of people supported the project and 31 per cent were neutral. Anecdotally, when the capital metro team are out and about engaging in the community, the community are excited for the project to begin and they are keen to learn more about what it will deliver for them.
This is not surprising, given the wide-ranging benefits that light rail will deliver for our city. It is part of our vision for a truly sustainable Canberra. Capital metro stage 1 will play a significant role in supporting changed settlement patterns and transport-oriented development. The city centre and Northbourne Avenue are in need of revitalisation to attract increased economic activity and to underpin our transition to an innovation-based economy. This, in turn, will support the long-term viability and vibrancy of the city’s town centre network.
In contrast, the opposition have not put forward any vision for our great city. What is their plan for transport for the future? They did not even have a comprehensive transport plan at the last election.
I make no apologies when I say that this project is the right thing for Canberra. It is the right thing for our community. It is the right thing for public transport users. It is the right thing for job creation, and it is the right thing for our future. The government are making the big, bold choices needed for our city’s future. We are tackling these challenges responsibly, not shying away when it becomes difficult. The community expects that of governments, and our future depends on it.
Investment in light rail will fundamentally change the way the city grows and Canberrans live. It is a city-shaping project. It is the glue that binds together the city’s urban renewal plans. The project will stimulate urban renewal. It will encourage smarter, denser development of the city. And it will help support the city’s broad, strategic planning strategies of increasing housing density along key transport corridors. It will also provide business and investment certainty along the corridor, stimulating significant economic activity as land surrounding the light rail increases in value and is used more efficiently—something that we know fixed rail has a distinct advantage over bus transport on.
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