Page 2049 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 4 June 2019
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modern, fully insulated and designed to meet current energy targets, with all the same comforts and technical IT infrastructure as a permanent learning space. As well as looking great on the inside, they are located in areas to blend into the overall design and landscaping of the school.
Through the budget, the government has invested $6.5 million on feasibility studies and planning to support detailed mapping of future student demand in residential growth areas in west Belconnen, the Molonglo Valley, south-east Canberra and the Belconnen and Woden town centre areas. This work will also address capacity within existing schools in the city and gateway area and consider the need for additional college places for the inner north and Gungahlin.
ACTION bus service—wheelchair accessible buses
MISS C BURCH: My question is to the Minister for Transport. A Canberra bus user shared the following experience: “I am a wheelchair user. Having to use two buses to get to my destination is difficult and time consuming. Also not all buses are wheelchair accessible. It now takes me up to 1 hour to travel from O’Connor to Belconnen. Previously it was one bus route that I travelled from home to Canberra Hospital and Belconnen.” Minister, why is this Canberran who is in a wheelchair now forced to take more buses on a longer journey to get around our city?
MS FITZHARRIS: I am not aware of where this particular user lives in O’Connor. If Miss Burch could provide further information, perhaps I can assist outside question time with the specific requirements of someone who needs to travel to a variety of locations across Canberra. It is the case that the new public transport network is servicing more people right across the city more often with more frequent buses. We have a number of supplementary services, of which Miss Burch is aware. Perhaps if those particular details can be forwarded to Transport Canberra, to my office, we can assist further.
As I am sure the opposition is aware, we make investments each year to ensure that our entire Transport Canberra fleet meets accessibility requirements over the next coming years, and we are doing very well on that measure.
MISS C BURCH: Minister, when can bus users such as this O’Connor resident expect their services to improve and to be better connected?
MS FITZHARRIS: Services are better connected. I refer Miss Burch to my previous answer.
MRS KIKKERT: Why are all bus services not wheelchair and pram accessible?
MS FITZHARRIS: Many are. I do not have the precise figure with me but it is in the high 80 or low 90 per cent. As I indicated in my previous answer, we do very well on the accessibility of our public transport fleet. I can take the specific question on notice and also refer Mrs Kikkert to my previous answer where I indicated we continue to make investments in this area to ensure that we have a universally accessible public transport fleet.
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