Page 3400 - Week 09 - Thursday, 24 August 2017

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within the Woden Library, will be relocated to a new purpose-built facility in Fyshwick. The new area will provide the important heritage collection with a higher level of protection to ensure that our important history is preserved. The Woden Library will then have the vacated spaces revamped with new contemporary library spaces and other facilities, including meeting facilities.

The need to place Canberrans at the heart of decisions is something TCCS and the ACT government have adopted as part of our core values. The budget announcements made to provide Canberra with better suburbs will deliver projects and services the community has asked for.

The budget includes funding to implement election commitments relating to waste. Importantly, this also includes the container deposit scheme. The scheme will remove used drinking containers from landfill and waterways while providing a valuable revenue source for small clubs, community groups and charities. I look forward to further announcements about the container deposit scheme, scheduled to start operating here in early 2018.

We will also, through this budget, establish a community program to donate unwanted goods to people in need, including people whose lives have been disrupted by domestic and family violence or natural disasters.

As at 1 July 2017, over 7,500 homes have registered for the green bin pilot currently operating in Weston Creek and Kambah. We know that green waste is an important issue for most Canberrans, which is why we have committed to making this service available to all ACT households by 2020. In addition, this budget makes significant investment in waste infrastructure, including for the rehabilitation of the West Belconnen Resource Management Centre and new cells at Mugga.

These are some of the great initiatives the 2017-18 budget provides for Canberrans. As we know, Canberra is a growing city. An increasing population is great for economic growth, and the government is taking action now to plan for the future so that we have sustainable services and facilities available for all Canberrans. I thank members for their comments. I note that we will continue other important work in a range of areas, including animal welfare, responsible pet ownership and, importantly, the waste feasibility study which Ms Le Couteur noted. The directorate will continue their customer focus, broad-ranging engagement, and new approaches for Canberrans to provide input into budget processes. I commend this TCCS budget to the Assembly.

MR STEEL (Murrumbidgee) (5.36): This is a budget that delivers for the south side and I am pleased to stand and support it and particularly comment on the transport and city services output. This budget delivers the infrastructure investment needed to bring renewal on the south side and support the growth occurring in the Molonglo Valley. I have already spoken this week and last week on how the budget helps to deliver an integrated, city-wide transport network as well as building our active travel connections.

I want today to address some of the other measures in the TCCS portfolio for Murrumbidgee, particularly infrastructure investments that are funded in the budget.


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