28 March 2022

$51 million infrastructure spend in Budget for ACT

| Ian Bushnell
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Senator Zed Seselja

Senator Zed Seselja is trumpeting the Coalition Government’s infrastructure spending in the ACT. Photo: Michelle Kroll.

The ACT will receive $51 million in this year’s pre-election Federal Budget for infrastructure projects, most of which will go to making Athllon Drive in Canberra’s south a dual carriageway.

In addition to $46.7 million for the Athllon Drive Duplication, the 2022-23 Budget will provide $2.8 million for the Kent Street and Novar Street Intersection Upgrades in Yarralumla and $1.5 million for the Inner Canberra Corridor Planning Package.

Liberal Senator for the ACT Zed Seselja said that with 14,000 vehicle movements per day, the duplication of Athllon Drive would ensure thousands of Canberrans get home sooner and safer.

“This funding comes on top of more than $2.1 billion in infrastructure commitments by the Liberal-National Government in the ACT in recent years – the largest investment in Canberra in a generation,” Senator Seselja said.

“This includes the $115 million Monaro Highway upgrades, $51 million for the Tuggeranong Parkway, $26.5 million for the duplication of William-Hovell Drive, the $500 million redevelopment of the Australian War Memorial, and $137 million for upgrades to Commonwealth Avenue Bridge.”

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The roads funding comes after $15.9 million was recently announced for priority community projects across the ACT under the third phase of the Federal Government’s $2.5 billion Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) program. The projects will be delivered by the Transport Canberra and City Services Directorate.

They include:

  • $8.76 million for upgrades to community facilities across the act, including the National Convention Centre, Mount Rogers Community Centre and Tuggeranong Community Centre.
  • $2.7 million for upgrades to community sports facilities, including at Boomanulla Oval and Kaleen Oval.
  • $1.7 million for improvements to community infrastructure, including increased lighting at bus shelters, skate park upgrades and safety improvements to play spaces across the ACT.
  • $2.7 million to improve active travel across the ACT, including a pedestrian bridge at Umbagong District Park in Ginninderra, and improving pathways and crossings between Woden and the City for pedestrians and cyclists.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is expected to call the election for 21 May this year after the budget is delivered.

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What have Barr and co done to upgrade Athllon drive since being in power other than putting up some signs saying it will be duplicated? As others have said this has been on the cards to be done for years yet nothing has happened.

There was enough cars and traffic years ago for a point to point average speed camera.

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