Gungahlin

Students going back for the first day of term four will notice some impressive changes, with more than $1 million in school upgrades completed and over $17 million worth of projects started over the school holidays.  

Together the ACT Labor Government and the Rudd Government are investing more than half a billion to upgrade every ACT school. This is delivering a wide range of projects from classrooms being repainted to new school halls, libraries and performing arts centres.

The Community Facility Zone Development Code (CFZDC) and its associated Development Table is currently being reviewed as part of the Territory Plan review.

A discussion paper has been released seeking comment from the ACT community about how the code and table might be revised.

Key questions have been identified, based on ACTPLA’s recent research and experiences. However these are intended only as a basis for discussion and suggestions about additional potential issues and policy measures are welcome.

As part of the ACT Government's development of the Sustainable Transport Action Plan 2010-2016, a review is being undertaken to improve cycling and pedestrian networks.

A contract has been awarded to a local company, Cardno Eppell Olsen, for $140,000 to undertake an extensive review of Canberra's commuter bicycle network in line with the Sustainable Transport Action Plan.

The Chief Minister and Minister for Business and Economic Development, Jon Stanhope MLA, haslaunched the first edition of Canberra Construction Snapshot, a biannual newsletter on construction works and capital projects.

Snapshot draws together in one place information about allof the major Government and private-sector infrastructure, capital works and development projects either in progress or expected to proceed in the ACT and the region and it sends a powerful message that the ACT is open for business.

This morning I joined more than 100 Harrison School dads in their favourite footy colours to and read to students and raise money for the fight against cancer.

Each year Harrison School runs innovative activities to encourage fathers and families to get more involved in the education of their kids.

This year Harrison held the ‘Dads at School’ morning to coincide with National Literacy and Numeracy Week and Footy Colours Day, a Fight Cancer Foundation event. 

The development of community facilities in Gungahlin has taken another step forward with the sale of land designated for use as a childcare facility.

Conveniently located just off Flemington Road and adjacent to the Harrison school site, Block 21 Section 2 at Harrison was auctioned by the Land Development Agency (LDA).

The auction saw spirited bidding with the not-for-profit community organisation, Northside Community Service, purchasing the site for $800,000.

It is expected up to 90 childcare places will be created providing a welcome addition to the childcare options available in the growing suburbs of Gungahlin.

This sale is a positive result, particularly given the uncertain climate that has been recently experienced to those seeking childcare.

Federal Labor’s announcement today of a $50.5 million investment in 22 ACT schools is a win for ACT students and the ACT economy. This investment has been supported by ACT Labor’s decision to further cut planning red tape to ensure school projects are delivered. 

The ACT Government is investing more than $74 million in major transport infrastructure to continue the development of Gungahlin and the Molonglo Valley.

The 2009-10 ACT Budget delivers on the ACT Government’s election commitments to invest in tourism and sports infrastructure, which will help support jobs in both sectors.

The centrepiece of the 2009-10 ACT Education Budget is funding of $28 million over four years to lower class sizes.

Commuters can expect a bus every 15 minutes during peak times and every 30 minutes during off-peak times on high demand weekday routes when the ACT Labor Government trials new rapid transit buses.

Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC) will be managed by the same professional team that currently manages Canberra Stadium, Manuka Oval and Stromlo Forest Park under legislation introduced into the ACT Legislative Assembly today.

The new arrangements would dissolve the EPIC Board, reducing operating costs and helping to ensure EPIC provides an even better return to ACT taxpayers. This is the same process the Government went through previously with Canberra Stadium and Manuka Oval.