For Central Canberra
ACT Budget 2016–17

Central Canberra up close

  • 10,870 school students taught by 831 teachers
  • 108 firefighters protecting the community
  • 73 playgrounds maintained
  • 10,500+ha of grass mowed
  • 18 sportsgrounds maintained

Liveability & Leisure

Funding is provided for upgrades to cultural and recreational facilities in the heart of Canberra.

  • Investing in infrastructure at the Narrabundah Ballpark
  • Starting feasibility and design work on a new pool for the city
  • New shade sails for the Boundless playground in Kings Park
  • New footpaths and a shared zone in Kingston and upgrades to Telopea Park
  • Delivering a sustainable water system to the expanding forest network at the Arboretum and upgrades to the Village Centre
  • Upgrading the Canberra Theatre to attract major theatre shows to the ACT
  • The new City Loop, a free bus service connecting the City, Braddon, New Acton and ANU

Health services for Central Canberra

Health services in Canberra are expanding through funding provided in this Budget, including:

  • Forward design for a City Health Centre
  • $100.5 million to upgrade and maintain facilities at Calvary Hospital, the Canberra Hospital and other health buildings
  • Progressing the University of Canberra Public Hospital which is due to open in 2018
  • $29 million to fund 54 new health staff for the 21 new treatment spaces as part of the Canberra Hospital Emergency Department expansion
  • Over $55 million in expanded mental health facilities including community services, inpatient beds and the secure mental health unit

Investing in Education

The Budget invests in education facilities for young people.

  • A new food technology facility at Alfred Deakin High School
  • Upgrades to science facilities at Dickson College
  • Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) technology upgrade at Campbell High School
  • $488,000 in upgrades to CIT Reid
  • STEM scholarships for teachers across Canberra
  • Central Canberra will share in a range of upgrades to promote walking and riding to school

Community Safety in Central Canberra

This Budget upgrades facilities for our police, firefighters and paramedics.

  • A major upgrade to the Fyshwick fire station
  • New police protective equipment and more security at police stations
  • Expanding the existing SouthCare hangar for a new, larger rescue helicopter

Investing in Health, Education & Safer Families

The ACT invests more per person in health and education than any other jurisdiction.

Health

  • $139 million for 170 new health staff including 22 doctors, 91 more nurses and 34 more allied health professionals
  • $29 million to expand the Canberra Hospital Emergency Department
  • $9.96 million for an expanded trauma service and intensive care
  • $55.9 million for mental health
  • $6.32 million for outpatient and palliative care

Education

  • $31.2 million for school upgrades
  • $10 million to take our school system digital

Safer families

  • Additional funding for the Domestic Violence Crisis Service & Canberra Rape Crisis Centre
  • More resources for police, courts & legal aid

Concessions

  • $35.1 million in additional concessions for low income households

A balanced budget returning to surplus

A-balanced-budget-Returning-to-Surplus

Where your money goes

A Graph indicating that the ACT Budget will return to surplus in the next four years.

AAA credit rating

ACT 

NSW 

VIC 

QLD 

TAS 

SA 

WA 

NT 

A Standard & Poor's AAA credit rating means the ACT has an extremely strong capacity to meet financial commitments.