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Gallagher’s Budget, our growing city

The recovering ACT economy will come out of deficit two years sooner than the gloomy seven-year predictions of last year.

In delivering this year’s Territory Budget, Treasurer Katy Gallagher told the Assembly: “We are bringing forward our return to surplus target by two years to 2013-14.

“The net operating balance for 2010-11 is a deficit of $83.9 million. By the last of the out-years we expect the deficit to have reduced to $50.3 million.”

This is what Katy did…

Health

  • $13 million for the 16-bed Surgical Assessment and Planning Unit at Canberra Hospital.
  • $14.7 million for 800 additional elective surgery.
  • $10.5 million is provided in 2010-11 to increase capacity within the intensive care unit at Canberra Hospital.
  • $11.4 million over four years for two new high-dependency beds at Calvary Hospital.
  • An additional 22 sub-acute beds will be opened over the next four years through a $26 million Commonwealth investment, under the national health reforms.
  • $4.2 million over the next four years for the Capital Region Cancer Service to meet growth in demand in 2010–11.
  • The Budget also includes Commonwealth funding of $27.9 million over three years for a new Integrated Cancer Centre.
  • $4.2 million for mental health services over the next four years to help meet demand for services and support the mental health workforce.
  • $4.2 million over four years is allocated to measures aimed at preventing or reducing risk factors for chronic disease such as diabetes.
  • $9.5 million for home and community care to assist frail, older people and younger people with a disability to remain at home rather than entering an aged care or other residential facility.
  • $4.2 million over four years for the Aged Care and Rehabilitation Service.
  • $14 million will fund the expansion and refurbishment of the Tuggeranong Health Centre.
  • $19.1 million for the Capital Asset Development Plan to further support the construction program needed to redevelop clinical services.

Education and Training

  • $1.1 million over four years to increase the participation of young people in education and training.
  • $1.6 million over four years to assist students with disabilities to address recommendations contained in the Shaddock Review of Special Education.
  • $300,000 over four years for swimming lessons for disadvantaged primary school children.
  • $14.5 million over four years has been allocated to support students and staff in the new Harrison High, Kambah Preschool to Year 10 and Gungahlin College,
  • $5.2 million for forward design for Franklin Early Childhood, Molonglo Primary and Bonner Primary Schools.
  • $5.3 million to expand the Red Hill Primary School.
  • $2 million for a second gymnasium court at Harrison High School.
  • $1.3 million to increase traffic safety around schools.
  • $3.9 million over four years to establish an independent, statutory ACT Teacher Quality Institute.
  • $9.1 million over three years for 4839 additional worker training places to be funded under the Productivity Places Program National Partnership.
  • $3.3 million over four years for publicly delivered vocational education and training programs through the CIT at Gungahlin.
  • $250,000 to investigate expanding CIT training services at Tuggeranong.

Transport

  • Three new major bus stations are also funded, including around $1.7 million for Gungahlin, $3.2 million for Erindale and $100,000 for a Barton bus station feasibility study.
  • Network 10 will commence in October 2010 and Network 11 in July 2011, with $6.1 million over four years in funding. The REDEX pilot service is being incorporated into the permanent ACTION network.
  • $2 million to improve bus services and facilities in the city.
  • $1 million for the installation of up to 50 bus shelters, and $1.8 million over three years for the Major Stops Program. New Park and Ride facilities will also be introduced at EPIC and Erindale with funding of $4.1 million over four years.
  • $700,000 for Bike and Ride facilities in Belconnen, Harrison, Phillip, Tuggeranong and Gungahlin.
  • $12.5 million in funding for a Real Time Passenger Information System.
  • $8.2 million over four years for bus priority lanes on Canberra Avenue and Northbourne Avenue.
  • $4.3 million over two years for a major bus station in Dickson, this option is also being explored for Flemington Road with $750,000 over two years.
  • $7.3 million over two years for Stage 1 of a transit way between the city and the ANU and minor bus priority works at the intersection of Haydon Drive and College Street.
  • The Transport for Canberra plan also includes an investment of $1 million for walking and cycling infrastructure and $3.5 million for path lighting in the city.
  • $1 million to upgrade the intersection at Phillip and Majura Avenue
  • $7.2 million to upgrade the Cotter Road between Tuggeranong Parkway and Yarra Glen.
  • $7 million to upgrade the intersection at Barry Drive and Clunies Ross Street, along with a number of critical intersection upgrades.
  • $205,000 for transport modelling for Woden and future Molonglo road developments.
  • $2.4 million over three years for variable message signs.

Community Services

  • $2.4 million over two years to support people with profound or severe disabilities. Support of $425,000 over four years is also being provided for families with autistic children.
  • $424,000 over four years to the Carers Advocacy Service to streamline access to services for carers in the community.
  • $1.7 million over four years for greater access to respite services for older carers.
  • $1.8 million over four years to increase the Energy Concession by $20, raising the maximum household concession to $214.87 per annum.
  • $2 million over four years to support implementation of the Sexual Assault Reform Program and the Family Violence Intervention Program.
  • $5.7 million over four years to support the increasing number of children who need to be provided with out of home care.
  • $7.1 million over four years for the ongoing operations of the Bimberi Youth Detention Centre.
  • $208,000 over four years to support emerging multicultural communities with language grants and activities for young people and refugees, at risk of social isolation.
  • $100,000 over two years to research and compile the genealogies and family histories for each of the acknowledged traditional Aboriginal clans in the Territory.
  • $3.2 million over two years for parking upgrades at the eight Regional Community Facility Hubs. The former Flynn school site is being redeveloped as a childcare centre, accommodating up to 120 places at a cost of $4 million.
  • $391,000 over two years for ACT Affordable Housing Action Plan, Phase 1 and 11, outreach support to sustain tenancies for low-income families in the private rental market.
  • $2.5 million for 10 new houses under the A Place to Call Home initiative.

Infrastructure, Land Development and Capital Works

  • $317 million for new capital works, $45 million for capital upgrades, around $24 million for Information and Communication Technology and almost $7 million for plant and equipment.
  • $8 million over four years to increase the supply of land ready for release.
  • $3.6 million over four years to accelerate land development, with an additional $1.7 million provided for coordination of the capital program to support the land release program.
  • $17 million is provided to construct two ponds in the new suburb of Coombs.
  • $11 million for the north-south arterial road, John Gorton Drive.
  • $1.8 million for road infrastructure and stormwater management feasibility studies.
  • $400,000 over two years to undertake planning and design studies for the Erindale Group Centre, Tuggeranong Town Centre and Pialligo.
  • $22 million over four years has been allocated for additional repairs and maintenance.
  • $1.3 million for Lake Ginninderra facilities including playground and picnic areas and path lighting.
  • $2.9 million over four years for new stock and improved provision of internet access for the Gungahlin Library.
  • $130,000 for technical investigations into commercial and industrial land supply options, including in the Eastern Broadacre area.
  • $403,000 over four years is provided to streamline development and environmental assessment and approvals processes, national licensing of tradespeople and development of a National Construction Code.
  • $210,000 over two years provided to help promote information sharing, and collaborative approaches to skills and future workforce issues in the Territory.

Community Safety and Justice

  • $5.1 million over four years to provide an additional 10 police officers to strengthen enforcement of liquor licensing, and also introducing a risk-based approach and mandatory Responsible Service of Alcohol training.
  • $4.1 million over four years will fund an Automated Number Plate Recognition team.
  • $1.4 million for road safety programs, including point to point speed cameras.
  • $5.1 million for the ACT Ambulance Service over four years for additional clinical support and communication centre staff.
  • $1.2 million over four years in operating and $2.6 million in capital funding for the rollout of a Mobile Data Solution Project.
  • $3.8 million capital and $5.2 million recurrent investment over four years in the second stage of the Strategic Bushfire Management Plan for new bushfire prevention programs.
  • $624,000 over four years for the National Emergency Warning System for early warning messages.
  • $1.1 million over four years for new court facilities in the Magistrates Court with and $1.6 million over four years for an acting Judge and support staff.
  • $1.6 million over four years for the Court Transport Unit.
  • $785,000 over four years for youth law services, and $194,000 over four years to engage an Indigenous Liaison Officer for the Legal Aid Commission.

Climate Change and Sustainability

  • $2.6 million over four years for measuring and reporting against the Government’s greenhouse gas reduction target of zero net emissions by 2060.
  • $1.3 million over four years for increasing the uptake of renewable energy from 30 per cent to 32.5 per cent.
  • $4.4 million for capital works and around $1.8 million over four years to explore future feasibility options of the capacity and landfill cell life of the Mugga Lane Resource Management Centre.
  • $1 million over two years provides for a trial of bulky waste pickup, along with funding of $335,000 over two years for resource recovery market development.
  • $1.3 million over four years for threatened species conservation.
  • $2.3 million over three year to upgrade facilities at the Jerrabomberra Wetlands. Weed control measures are also supported with $200,000.
  • $11.5 million for improving management of water resources and run off at Ginninderra Creek at Gungahlin and at Molonglo.
  • $100,000 for a Wood Heater Survey and Educational Awareness Campaign.

Tourism, Culture and Sport

  • 22.6 million for the National Arboretum Canberra to develop
  • visitor facilities and additional forest plantings with a particular focus on the planned Centenary of Canberra celebrations in 2013.
  • $1.9 million over four years will be invested to support Floriade and the
  • continuation of the NightFest, and upgrades to the Canberra Theatre Centre, the Street Theatre and Watson Arts Centre.
  • $100,000 to commission an Australian composer to write music for the Canberra Symphony Orchestra to help celebrate the Centenary of Canberra.
  • $6.5 million over four years for infrastructure work at the Gungahlin Wellbeing Precinct.
  • A number of sporting facilities are also being upgraded including the Lyneham Precinct, the Canberra Stadium, Manuka Oval, Narrabundah Ball Park and funding for design for the Belconnen Skate Park, Gungahlin Leisure Centre and Throsby Multisport Complex.
  • This Budget also includes $1.8 million to support Canberra’s growing digital media, film and television production industry through an ACT Film Industry Fund.

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One Response to Gallagher’s Budget, our growing city

Tom says: 9 June 2010 at 4:43 am

Glad to see another example of Australia’s resilience do the GFC.
Always difficult to try and cater for everyone’s interests, though "$300,000 over four years for swimming lessons for disadvantaged primary school children" shows diversity.
Looks fairly solid in my opinion.

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