More services for our suburbs

The ACT Government is delivering tidier suburbs with more trees, upgraded playgrounds and better public spaces through the 2018 Budget. We are improving local ovals and stepping up city services to look after our growing communities.

At the same time, we are investing in the renewal of our town centres with better walking and cycling links and community-led activations to create livelier public spaces.

Canberra is Australia’s most active community, with a larger share of Canberrans commuting by walking or cycling than anywhere else in the country. The ACT Government committed to invest an additional $30 million in active travel infrastructure over the life of this Parliamentary term, and this year’s Budget fully delivers on that promise.

More services for our suburbs

This Budget will deliver more services in our established suburbs and new communities so Canberrans can continue to be proud of our city. This includes:

• $10.9 million to expand City Services to meet the costs of delivering services to Canberra’s new communities, including both infill developments and new suburban housing estates
• $10 million for more mowing, weeding, graffiti removal, cleaning up local waterways and tree trimming
• $3.4 million to improve animal management and encourage responsible pet ownership by delivering two new ranger positions to manage domestic dogs and upgrade another seven positions for rangers investigating complaints
• $3.2 million for our local libraries to ensure Canberrans continue to have access to high quality library services
• $2.8 million over four years to improve playing fields across the city and keep our local ovals green
• $2.2 million to restore Higgins Neighbourhood Oval with new turf, a new irrigation system, lighting and a pavilion with toilet facilities
• $1.7 million to upgrade the Nicholls Neighbourhood Oval and replace the synthetic surface
• $958,000 over four years to reopen Boomanulla Oval for use as a focal point for Indigenous cultural and community events
• $457,000 over four years to plant an additional 1,330 trees in residential streets across our city.

A more vibrant city

We are investing in a vibrant CBD for Canberra, with more infrastructure and events to boost activity in the heart of our city. This includes:

• $5 million to build better footpaths, better verges and better public spaces in the CBD
• $500,000 to continue a series of events and installations to make the CBD, Dickson and Braddon more exciting for visitors, workers, customers and residents
• $90,000 to plan and design a network of micro parks.

More connected town centres

We are delivering better connections to open up Canberra’s town centres, while meeting our commitment to invest in more active travel infrastructure. This includes:

• $10.5 million to improve cycling and walking connections into and around the Belconnen Town Centre that will:
• Build the Belconnen Bikeway to connect the University of Canberra with the Belconnen Town Centre and revitalise the disused busway to connect to Florey and Page. Separated cycle and pedestrian paths within the Belconnen Town Centre will also be built, including along Benjamin Way to connect to Belconnen Way
• Extend the Lake Ginninderra Circuit around the Belconnen Arts Centre with an overwater boardwalk
• $4.7 million to deliver a new separated cycleway and verge improvements along Corinna Street from Furzer Street to Callam Street, along with funding to widen the cycle paths on Melrose Drive and Ball Street and complete other priority works identified in the Woden Town Centre Master Plan
• $4 million to improve the cycling and pedestrian connection from Anketell Street to Lake Tuggeranong via the Town Square, convert paved areas around the Tuggeranong Arts Centre to grass and provide new path connections to link the Lakeside Leisure Centre with the Lake Tuggeranong Shared path
• $1.2 million for the completion of the Lyons to Weston Creek walking and cycling link along Heysen Street.

These new works will see the ACT Government’s investment in urban renewal and active travel continue to grow as we deliver a better CBD and town centres across Canberra.

Media contact: Claire Johnston     0452 597 459     ClaireV.Johnston@act.gov.au