Page 2800 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 13 August 2019

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the flexibility to transition to emerging low-emissions and zero-emissions vehicles if these become viable in the near future.

We have also committed to the construction of an additional light rail stop on Flemington Road in Mitchell, with construction commencing this financial year. This newly constructed stop will support local businesses and residents in Gungahlin and north Canberra, providing improved public transport in Mitchell.

In addition to the construction of the light rail stop, pedestrians and cyclists will find it easier to access the Mitchell business precinct, with the missing link in the Flemington Road path network to be fixed. A 1.3-kilometre cycling and walking path will be constructed on Flemington Road between Well Station Drive and Morisset Road and Sandford Street, and a park-and-ride facility will be funded on Well Station Drive to continue to support the record number of people who are using light rail.

The budget also commits to commencing work on a new bus interchange for Woden that will accommodate light rail in the future. The new interchange will feature more comfortable shelters, modern passenger information displays, ticketing machines, accessible footpaths and cycle facilities, security systems and a safer transition between the future light rail stop and those who are catching buses at the interchange. It will make Woden a better place for people and contribute to the regeneration of the town centre, as a new interchange has in other parts of Canberra like Belconnen and Dickson.

The government will continue to invest in our suburbs through the better infrastructure fund. In particular, we will continue to deliver footpath and cycleway upgrades to help make our suburbs more age friendly and promote active travel. In 2019-20, works will be delivered in Aranda, Campbell, Holt, Isabella Plains, Narrabundah and Stirling as part of the age friendly suburbs program. We will continue to upgrade bus stop infrastructure across the ACT to improve accessibility and encourage more Canberrans to combine active travel with public transport. We will continue to deliver the highly successful school crossing supervisors program, supporting 25 schools, and we will continue to deliver a range of safety measures at our schools across the ACT to improve road safety and encourage walking and cycling to school.

The government is upgrading and refurbishing the Woden Library, including upgrading spaces for use by the community and the potential for after-hours use as well.

The 2019-20 budget will see a step-up in city services because we want to make sure that Canberrans in every suburb have access to trees, parks, better playgrounds and great public spaces that we can continue to be proud of. The government has recently released the Better Suburbs—Making Progress report 2019. The report reflects on how the budget aligns with the priorities that Canberrans who participated in the better suburbs citizens forum put forward for city services. I table that report in the Assembly today. I present the following paper:

Better Suburbs—Making Progress—2019-20.


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