Today I announced that 68 local sport and recreation groups will share in more than $2 million in funding from the 2012 Sport and Recreation Grants Program (SRGP).
Over the last five years I have announced more than $11 million of SRGP funding to organisations which are focused on increasing participation opportunities in a wide variety of sport and recreational activities.
ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher has reported on a busy year in municipal services in the Territory. In 2011, over 127 kilometres of road have been resurfaced, over 53,500m2 of footpaths maintained, over 3,770 damaged signs fixed and over 4,220 potholes repaired.
Major roads resurfaced as part of the program include Hindmarsh Drive, Cotter Road, Monaro Highway and Belconnen Way.
The ACT Labor Government wants to know how the community would like to see money spent and their ideas for ensuring Canberra’s economic, social and environmental prosperity into the future.
We are inviting Canberrans to have a say through the 2012-13 Budget consultation process.
This process provides an important opportunity for the community, representative and peak bodies and individuals to submit their views on what they believe the Government’s revenue and resource allocation priorities should be in 2012‑13 and future years.
These ideas will all feed into Government’s revenue and resource allocation priorities in 2012‑13 and future years and I look forward to seeing the ideas that come through.
Canberra's construction sector continues to show its strength with around $13.5 billion worth of projects currently planned or under way in the ACT according to the latest Canberra Construction Snapshot.
Construction is a major contributor to the ACT economy and since coming to office, the ACT Labor Government has invested massively in infrastructure with record-breaking capital works programs in education, health, transport and the environment delivered over recent years.
The ACT Labor Government continues to increase the opportunity for Canberrans to achieve home ownership, today announcing bankmecu as another provider of finance through the ACT’s nation-leading Land Rent Scheme.
Since its commencement in 2008, the Land Rent Scheme has proven an attractive option for more than 1000 low-income Canberra families wishing to achieve the dream of home ownership at a more affordable price.
To date, more than 310 people have purchased housing using the land-rent scheme, and a further 747 have exchanged contracts.
Thirteen local organisations will share in over $200,000 in funding to assist them to deliver festivals and celebrations around Canberra in 2012.
Events funded under the ACT Festival Fund for 2012 range from film, music and community festivals through to dance and gaming events. Successful Festival Fund grant recipients include:
Walkers and cyclists in Canberra are set to benefit from a $9 million injection of funds for seven new walking and cycling infrastructure projects.
The funded projects include:
Today I turned the first sod to mark the start of construction at the new $9.3 million Canberra College Performing Arts Centre.
The new Performing Arts Centre is part of the ACT Labor Government’s more than half a billion dollar investment in upgrading every ACT public school and building new schools were they are most needed.
The new Canberra College facility is the fourth Performing Arts Centre to be constructed at ACT public schools in recent years – following major arts venues at Lyneham High School, Calwell High School and Gungahlin College.
The 2011-12 Budget meets the ACT Government’s commitment to inject significant capital spending to upgrade public schools, and build new schools where they are needed most.
The fast-growing population of Gungahlin will again benefit with a new $60.3 million primary school in Bonner and a $42.7 million early childhood school and childcare centre in Franklin.
In August last year the Assembly resolved that, among other things, the Government develop a priority list of areas to be master planned and subject to further localised planning.
The resolution also called on the Government to undertake localised planning and consultation in suburban areas and town, group and local centres where significant changes are anticipated; and to incorporate these master plans and precinct plans into the Territory Plan.
The Assembly resolved that the Government report back to the Assembly by the end of June 2011 with the results of the priority list.
The significant revamp to the Lyons shops featuring new lighting, footpaths, landscaping and improved access, was today officially opened by Chief Minister Jon Stanhope.
The $1.1 million upgrade of the Lyons shops has revitalised the area, providing locals and traders with a safer, more accessible and more attractive centre.
The ACT Government developed this project in close consultation with the community and businesses and many of their suggestions were included in the final design, such as improvements to safety, access, parking arrangements and public seating.
Upgrades to the centre include:
I have written to the Federal Golf Club today formally advising that the Government will not support a residential redevelopment proposal at the Golf Course in Red Hill.
I formed this view after careful consideration of the advice and opinions of a range of government agencies, environmental and community groups.
In 2009 the ACT Planning and Land Authority circulated a planning report for a proposed housing development at the Federal Golf Course which would rezone the site from PRZ2 – Restricted Access Recreation to RZ4 – Medium Density Residential.
Chief Minister Jon Stanhope has officially opened an ACT Government-funded $900,000 upgrade of the Grant Cameron Community Centre, providing enhanced facilities to the Woden Valley Gymnastics Club.
The centre is an important facility providing both competitive and recreational gymnastics programs to the community of Woden, Weston Creek and Molonglo.
Over the last 12 months the Government has worked on the $900,000 refurbishment of the Grant Cameron Community Centre, which has been leased by the Woden Valley Gymnastics Club since 1996.
The money has paid for an extension to the centre as well as an upgrade to the entire site, including landscaping and improvements to the carpark.
Canberrans want a more compact city that will better support a public transport system and deliver a better mix of housing across the ACT, according to the outcomes of the Time to Talk - Canberra 2030, which were released today.
The biggest consultation exercise in ACT Government history also showed that people want to see greenhouse gas emissions reduced and planning laws that allow new homes to be more sustainable.
Authorised by A.Barr, Australian Labor Party (ACT Branch), 21 Torrens Street, Braddon, 2612. Site by Kudasai