Page 2895 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 14 August 2018
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for existing homes in the budget—we need to continue to ensure we invest in child-friendly initiatives around our city, and this budget does exactly that.
The investment of $1.9 million for new playgrounds and playground upgrades will allow communities across Canberra, and particularly in my electorate, to put forward their proposals for playgrounds to a new citizens forum. We have heard from the community, through the better suburbs discussion, that playgrounds around local shopping centres should be a particular focus for upgrades. Upgrades to playgrounds at local centres are a focus for communities in Farrer, Waramanga and Torrens, as well as other suburbs which will be putting forward their proposals.
The opposition’s choice was to choose one playground. Ask any child and they would say that is unfair. I am proud our government is providing a fair process to fund multiple playgrounds across the ACT. We are also implementing a participatory budgeting process, in line with the Assembly’s wishes. I have to say that I am really looking forward to the first citizens forum this Sunday, 19 August and to hearing the pitches from local community advocates who will be presenting their ideas for consideration, an outcome of this budget which should be supported.
Our budget also makes further important public realm upgrades across our city, investing $21 million in active travel upgrades, with a major investment in footpaths in our town centres to better connect pedestrians and encourage healthy lifestyles. I am really pleased the government will be investing in a new shared path on Heysen Street in Weston and Devonport Street in Lyons. It will bridge the missing link between the two suburbs, for which I have been advocating on behalf of local residents.
At present the road is informally used as an east-west link between the Woden Valley and Weston Creek, but historically it has lacked a pedestrian and cycling link, despite the proximity of the two suburbs. The budget provides $1.2 million over two years, to 2019-20, for the planning and construction of a shared path, which will also include improved lighting and improved safety for pedestrians and motorists.
In Woden town centre the ACT government is investing $4.75 million over four years to make pedestrian and cycling accessibility improvements which have been identified in the master plan. This includes the design and construction of a new separated cycleway and verge improvements on Corinna Street and new and upgraded cycling and walking infrastructure on other key links, as well as wayfinding signage.
Melrose Drive will be upgraded, with the existing path on the western verge to be widened from Brewer Street through to the main east-west community path link into Chifley, and will include additional measures for safety, especially under the underpass at Melrose Drive. On Callum Street’s western verge a new three-metre-wide shared path will be designed and constructed from the Matilda Street intersection through to Bowes Street. A new pedestrianised heart will be connected by the construction of a new shared path ramp from Atlantic Street to the central pedestrian spine around the major public service employment areas.
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