ACT launches $5 billion infrastructure pipeline
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The ACT Government has launched a $5 billion infrastructure pipeline for local projects, aiding in the Territory’s economic recovery by creating and protecting thousands of jobs.
“The Government will be going full throttle to support the strongest possible economic recovery,” Chief Minister & Treasurer Andrew Barr said.
“We will be pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into the ACT economy over the coming years to support create and protect thousands of good, secure local jobs in the public sector, the private sector and the community sector.”
The $5 billion infrastructure pipeline will be the largest program in the history of the ACT public sector and will support over 15,300 construction jobs. More jobs are expected to be created in the years to come.
The pipeline follows the 250 projects and 14 ongoing programs of infrastructure work that is already underway. In this, the ACT Government continues its capital investment priorities on health, education, public transport, public housing, climate action and urban renewal over the next five years.
Health
The pipeline will see to provide $877 million over five years to improve the Territory’s health sector. This will include new funding for projects such as a Cancer Research Centre at the Canberra Hospital, infrastructure upgrades at Calvary Public Hospital, planning for a new carpark at the Canberra Hospital and planning and design for a future hospital in Canberra’s north.
Schools and TAFE
A total of $950 million will be funded into CIT and education infrastructure to help support children’s education and a skilled workforce. This investment will expand Margaret Hendry School and build a new high school in Taylor.
Aside from this, the funding will also provide nine new modular learning centres, design works for a new primary school at Strathnairn and a modernised Narrabundah College, road infrastructure for East Gungahlin High School and funding to prepare to modernise Garran Primary School.
Housing
The pipeline will also see to the infrastructure investment in housing and community support and safety, which will total $935 million. It will also include over $580 million for public housing growth and renewal. These investments will support the effective delivery of vital services to vulnerable members of the community.
Transport
While Canberra has one of the best transport infrastructures, the $1.4 billion funding from the pipeline will help upgrade the city’s sustainable and connected transport system.
This will see to the upgrades on roads and paths and improvements to active travel routes across Canberra such as the first light rail stop for stage two of light rail to Woden, detailed design and construction of the Sulwood Drive shared path and the duplication of William Hovell Drive.
Suburban infrastructure
$8.5 million will be allocated to upgrade and improve major venues that host sporting and other events in Canberra. This will include the consultation and planning works for a staged expansion of Exhibition Park in Canberra, a new video replay board and upgrades to GIO Stadium, a new video scoreboard and upgrades to Manuka Oval and a feasibility study for a second sealed access road for the National Arboretum Canberra.
Aside from this, there will also be a $2.9 million funding for the allocation of detailed design work for carpark upgrades at Stromlo Forest Park.
Emergency Services
ACT’s emergency services will receive a boost of over $12 million. This will allow them to upgrade facilities across our emergency services, including refurbishments for the Gungahlin Joint Emergency Services Centre.
The funding has also allowed the purchase of a new state of the art fire-fighting tanker, fitted out with appropriate safety equipment in preparation for the 2020-21 bushfire season.
Community facilities, parks and playgrounds
Community facilities across Canberra will also be upgraded under the pipeline:
- $18.7 million will be used for local shopping centre upgrades;
- $9 million to progress the Throsby Home of Football;
- $300,000 for a feasibility and design study to determine a delivery approach for community facilities in Gungahlin;
- $1.65 million over three years for detailed design work for the Southern Memorial Park; and
- $15 million to deliver a purpose-built facility for Gugan Gulwan Youth Aboriginal Corporation at its current Wanniassa location to ensure it can continue to deliver vital services for children, young people and families.
The ACT Government will also invest another $5 million to continue the Healthy Waterways Project.
Casey community will also receive a new community recreation park thanks to a $3 million allocation for detailed design and construction. Planning will begin for some urban spaces such as the Yerrabi Pond District Park and the Acton Waterfront. $5.3 million will also be invested in new or upgraded play spaces in Kaleen, Ngunnawal, Chisholm, Gordon, Lyons and Aranda.
Public Trading Enterprises
In addition to the $5.0 billion of investment by the General Government Sector, an additional $1.4 billion will be invested by Public Trading Enterprises over the next five years. This will result in a record $1.3 billion in 2021-22 and $6.4 billion over the five years to 2025-26.
These works form a central part of the ACT Government’s biggest infrastructure program in history and will grow and protect jobs to help our economy recover and reach our goal of more than 250,000 jobs in our economy by 2025.
“Our infrastructure investment program provides an important pipeline of activity to support the economy and create jobs,” Minister Barr said.
“Interest rates are the lowest since Federation, providing a once in a century opportunity for the Government to build sustainable, productivity-improving and growth-enabling infrastructure to prepare our city for the future.”
Source: ACT Government Media Release
Eliza is a content producer and editor at Public Spectrum. She is an experienced writer on topics related to the government and to the public, as well as stories that uplift and improve the community.
