Page 2067 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 6 June 2018
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In the town centre there have been, and continue to be, regular drop-ins to businesses adjacent to the construction zone. A monthly meeting is also held with the Gungahlin town centre retail managers, Canberra Metro, Transport Canberra and the light rail business link program. From this feedback, specific business support activities have included marketing and promotion through banners, signage and social media video clips on local businesses.
In saying this, I do acknowledge the concerns about business activity in Hibberson Street adjacent to light rail construction works. I thank the businesses for their patience. Light rail construction fencing in Hibberson Street has now largely been removed and replaced with low barriers. Already the street is taking on the look and feel of a pedestrian boulevard as landscaping progresses. In the next few weeks we will see the streetlights installed and a significant change in that part of Hibberson Street.
As I mentioned, I have moved the amendment. I could not support Mr Milligan’s original motion, which called on the government to provide financial compensation. As I have outlined the government has provided extensive support and assistance to local businesses and will provide more direct support through the promotion of local businesses in the town centre in the coming months.
I look forward to undertaking work, as noted in the amendment, on an assessment of business impacts in the Gungahlin town centre from all construction in the town centre. I also look forward to building on lessons learned to inform the further rollout of light rail stage 1 and how we go about developing and planning for light rail stage 2.
The amendment also outlines a commitment from the government that I have made with many local businesses and also with community groups in Gungahlin to support a street party event later this year, once construction activity is completed on Hibberson Street, to both celebrate the completion of that work and the completion of major light rail construction works in the Gungahlin town centre. The government will also support a Gungahlin town centre precinct activation and broader marketing strategy to encourage visitors and locals to shop locally in the town centre.
I also welcome the establishment of the Mitchell Traders Association late last year. The association has allowed proactive and coordinated business support activities in response to issues raised by local traders in Mitchell. Business support activities for Mitchell have included Transport Canberra funding for a Mitchell business website to be launched in mid-2018. It will also showcase promotional videos funded through TCCS.
Mitchell businesses have also been offered the opportunity to have a business promotion video produced. Nineteen have participated in this work, with 11 social media clips released to date and the remainder with the businesses for their final sign-off.
As I was pleased to announce earlier this week, the government has included in its budget funding the commencement of works for a light rail stop in Mitchell. This will
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