Page 3728 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 28 October 2015

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One of the main things that we’re seeing in Franklin and Harrison is the importance of access to the city and having that direct route.

He says that light rail is on the mind of just about everyone buying within close proximity to the city to Gungahlin route. Delmar, a boutique townhouse development on the light rail route in Franklin, has seen very strong sales. “The light rail has definitely been mentioned by the vast majority of buyers,” said Mr Potts. In the same article, Domain Group senior economist Andrew Wilson said local public transport improvements increase the demand for properties in the area. He said:

It’s always a positive to improve local infrastructure. All these initiatives always put a premium on demand.

Public servant Marko Savic, who purchased a townhouse in the Glasshouse development, said he believes the light rail, which is expected to run straight past the front of his development, will add value to his investment. He said:

I actually work in Civic and the parking is … difficult, hard to find and quite expensive. If this light rail were to come in it would really make my life so much easier.

I seek leave to table the article.

Leave granted.

MS FITZHARRIS: I present the following paper:

Canberra light rail puts Gungahlin on track for property boost—Copy of news article, dated 30 April 2015.

It is clear that people are already planning for light rail. It is already boosting productivity, investment and economic activity in our city.

I also welcome the debate this week about the potential to extend light rail to Russell, as well as the parliamentary triangle. As Minister Gentleman said, the parliamentary triangle is a high priority corridor, holding 60 per cent of all ACT jobs. At the same time light rail in the parliamentary triangle would also support the travel of more than five million visitors annually to national and local institutions. This is an opportunity that we should look to progress, and one we could possibly partner with the federal government on.

I believe we can put a good case to new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who has been at pains to say that one of the key issues—perhaps the only issue—that differentiates him from former Prime Minister Tony Abbott is his commitment to rail. I note the federal government has already seized on the success of the Gold Coast light rail project to showcase its support of light rail, committing $95 million to stage 2 of that project. Just as Gold Coast light rail is vital for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Canberra light rail will be vital to the future of Australia’s capital city and its institutions, which get better and better every year.


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