Page 4089 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 18 November 2015

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Mr Coe: It’s not back to the government, Mick; get it right.

MR GENTLEMAN: The project is expected to support about 3,500 jobs, with many of these jobs expected to be filled by local industry. Mr Coe interjects and says it does not all come back to the government. I have just explained that it is expected also to come back through industry.

Madam Speaker, I also see great opportunities for apprenticeships and training through the capital metro project, providing our youth with even more opportunities into the future. This also presents opportunities for the knowledge gained through the stage 1 construction of the project to be used into the future with future stages of light rail expansion.

The government recently released the light rail network plan which explores how the light rail network will be expanded across Canberra in the future in a way that best services the city. Light rail is being considered in Canberra’s busiest public transport corridors where high capacity, high frequency rapid transport services are required. These corridors include the first stage between Gungahlin and the city; the parliamentary triangle; Woden to the city; the city to eastern connections, including the Canberra Airport and Fyshwick; Tuggeranong to Woden; Kippax and Belconnen to the city; and Molonglo to the city.

The government is eager for the community to have their say on the light rail network and community consultation is currently underway until 11 December.

The government welcomes the Auditor-General’s review on the frequent network and consideration of the report will further inform the significant work undertaken to enhance the provision of public transport in the ACT. A formal government response to the Auditor-General’s report and recommendations will be tabled in the ACT Legislative Assembly in early 2016.

To ensure we get the best from this public transport network, the ACT government has created transport Canberra, which will bring together ACTION and capital metro light rail from 1 July 2016. This will streamline our approach to delivering public transport in line with public expectations and ensure that decisions are coordinated, that timetabling, routes and ticketing are complementary, and that future investment decisions support and maximise the performance of the entire public transport network.

The new transport Canberra agency will work to combine smart ticketing for light rail and buses and also help coordinate rail and bus routes around the city. Work has already advanced to ensure that there is a one ticket, one network approach across buses and light rail. Transport Canberra’s mandate is to deliver the ACT government’s vision for a quality public transport system that is convenient, efficient, affordable, reliable and integrated. The government will continue to build upon its recent successes and implement an integrated public transport network that meets Canberra’s needs now and over the next 25 years.


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