Gungahlin

Today I launched the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Matters – Strategic Plan 2010-2013.

The strategy, aimed at closing the education gap experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students has been developed by the ACT Department of Education and Training in consultation with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Consultative Group, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body, the Australian Education Union, the Network Principals’ Reference Group, the Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services and ACT Health.

Canberrans are more water-wise, less wasteful and more satisfied with the quality of the ACT's public schools and services at The Canberra Hospital, according the ACT's Government latest report card on life in Canberra.

The Measuring Our Progress report, which now has a dedicated website, was released by the Chief Minister, Jon Stanhope.

Measuring Our Progress provides a snap-shot of life in Canberra against 28 indicators in areas including health, safety, sustainability, and education. It aims to provide a complete picture of our progress, as a community and as a Government, towards a healthy, safer and more prosperous city.

I have asked the ACT Planning and Land Authority (ACTPLA) to establish an expert reference group made of community and industry members as well as professional associations to work with ACTPLA in considering issues raised in submissions received so far on draft variations to the Territory Plan 303 and 301. 

The ACT Labor Government will set targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2020, and 80% by 2050, based on 1990 levels, Minister for the Environment Climate Change and Water, Simon Corbell, announced today.

Mr Corbell will today table the milestone targets with the Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Bill 2010.

Last year the ACT Government announced its commitment to make Canberra carbon neutral by 2060 and these targets set important milestones towards implementation of that long term goal.

The ACT Government has consulted widely on potential targets for greenhouse gas reduction in the Territory, and has analysed evidence based arguments on human caused global warming.

The ACT Government will bring forward the delivery of affordable houses in Gungahlin by 14 months thanks to a $9.76 million investment from the Federal Government's Housing Affordability Fund.

The funding announcement by the Federal Minister for Housing, Tanya Plibersek, which includes $7.6 million for a collector road and bus route to Crace and $2.16 million for new roads and services such as paving and stormwater infrastructure in the Gungaderra West estate in Harrison.

The investment wwill accelerate the development of serviced land in Crace and Gungaderra West and complements the ACT Government's own efforts to increase the ACT's housing stock, particularly for low income earners.

The ACT Government is reminding Canberrans to comment on proposed planning changes, one designed to encourage more housing to be developed in existing suburbs and another aimed at maximising solar access of new homes and developments.

 Draft Variation No. 303 to the Territory Plan includes: 

• a change to the minimum block size for dual occupancy development; and

• new rules for secondary residences, sometimes referred to as "granny flats" that will provide greater opportunities for small additional dwellings suitable for our ageing and changing population.

In an exciting weekend for local sport, the upgraded Phillip Oval and Harrison District Playing Fields both get their first official use today. 

For the first time in seven years, AFL matches at the senior club level will be hosted at Phillip Oval this Saturday, 24 July 2010 (between 9 am and 5 pm).

Phillip Oval’s elite sporting complex now boasts a $2.3 million pavilion as well as tiered seating on the viewing banks. The sporting community will also benefit from the new drought tolerant resistant couch grass, a turf cricket pitch and new AFL goal posts.

The ACT Government is supporting a national move to help minimise the impact of noise on people who live in areas where external noise may affect their quality of life. 

The ACT has joined with other states and the Northern Territory at the recent Building Ministers’ Forum to support the development of a construction standard to ensure residential buildings in busy areas are constructed in a way that helps to minimise noise from external sources. 

As we move towards having more infill development and more buildings are built in parts of our cities where external noise is greater, we need to introduce measures that will limit the potential for this to become a source of irritation to residents.