Page 2019 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 5 June 2018
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At the same time as we are building new roads, we are actively working to cut the ACT’s emissions from local cars. Once Canberra reaches our target of being powered by 100 per cent renewable electricity in two years time, tackling emissions from our transport fleet will be the next big task on our path to zero net emissions by 2045.
That is why this Budget will invest in 50 electric vehicle charging stations at ACT Government sites across Canberra. This builds on our recently released Transition to Zero Emissions Vehicles Action Plan, and will see us pursue Australia’s most ambitious emissions reductions effort across the transport fleet.
We are also helping to cut this city’s emissions by getting more people out of their cars for the daily commute.
Canberra is already Australia’s most active community, with many of us walking or cycling to work and school. We gave a commitment to deliver an additional $30 million in active travel infrastructure over the life of this Parliamentary term, and I am very happy to say that the 2018-19 Budget fully achieves that.
We are delivering an integrated bike network for Belconnen which links suburbs like Macquarie and Florey with the Belconnen Town Centre, the Lake Ginninderra foreshore, and major sporting and study institutions in Bruce.
We are improving cycling and footpath connections in the Woden and Tuggeranong town centres, constructing an off road “rapid” bikeway network and completing the Lyons to Weston Creek (Heysen Street) cycle path link.
These investments will make it easier than ever for Canberrans to get active when they are moving around our city.
On top of these improvements to our town centres, this Budget steps up services for our suburbs.
We are delivering more funding every year for mowing, weeding, cleaning up graffiti, maintaining local waterways and tree trimming. We are investing in playgrounds through a community-led process that will give Canberrans a say in where funds should be targeted to provide the most community benefit.
We are also significantly expanding the funding provided to City Services, because we recognise that a growing city means more demand for municipal services. The number of homes receiving rubbish collection has risen by about 6,000 in the past five years, while we have added four new ovals, 24 new suburban playgrounds and 10 playground upgrades in that same time.
More investment in core municipal services will mean tidier suburbs across Canberra, along with parks, playgrounds and public spaces we can continue to be proud of.
This builds on last year’s Budget funding for the rollout of green bins to every Canberra suburb by 2019—a key election commitment and a time and cost-saving benefit for households.
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