Emu Inlet will be upgraded with a new water play area, picnic tables and landscaping. Photos: Ian Bushnell.
Emu Bank will become a refreshed focal point for the Belconnen Town Centre and its growing population under initiatives announced in ACT Labor’s $20 million Belconnen Regional Plan.
Local MLA Tara Cheyne said she was looking forward to finally realising the vision for Emu Bank as a destination that goes back to 1968.
Labor says it will upgrade nearby Margaret Timpson Park, build a new playground, a new public toilet, barbecues, picnic tables, landscaping, and an accessible ramp to the park on the northern edge.
It will also freshen Emu Inlet with a new water play area, picnic tables, landscaping and murals.
Ms Cheyne said this would make a big difference, particularly in the summer.
“It will bring a bit of renewal and vibrancy to this area, which is underutilised,” she said.
“Many people walk through it and don’t stop and linger, despite the investment that we made in this site about 12 years ago.”
Ms Cheyne said there would be a lot more opportunities to be explored there, such as outdoor dining and markets.
She said the pavers would be fixed and the area made as safe as it can be.
“Emu Bank’s been through quite a journey of different thoughts and ideas about what it should be,” Ms Cheyne said.
“But we can all agree that it’s absolutely underutilised and is not meeting its objective as a destination, and we will do that if we are re-elected.”
Belconnen Town Centre’s population has grown thanks to its high-rise apartment towers.
Ms Cheyne said Labor would spend $9 million on the next stages of the Lake Ginninderra path upgrades, including around Diddams Close, the Ginninderra Drive bridge and along the western foreshore.
Outside the Town Centre, a re-elected Labor Government will build a new, all-abilities public playground in Florey, upgrade the playground and public toilet in Umbagong Park and build a new playground in McKellar.
A new all-abilities playground will be built at Charnwood Dunlop School.
Labor will also deliver the next stage of upgrades at the Charnwood shops, and work with the owners of Kippax Fair on stage two of upgrades of a premier, revitalised shopping precinct for West Belconnen.
As in other electorates, Labor will set up a $5 million fund for improving footpaths across Belconnen.
Other big-ticket promises for Belconnen include more services on the popular R2 service between Belconnen and Fyshwick via the City and a new West Belconnen Rapid Service linking Ginninderry to the City with a new park-and-ride car park for passengers.
In education, a new early childhood education and care centre and primary school will be built in Strathnairn.
A re-elected Labor Government aims to develop the Bruce Health, Education & Sports precinct. This will include a new Northside Hospital, an upgraded CIT Belconnen and a new Canberra Stadium, which will complement the Commonwealth’s major upgrade of the AIS Sports precinct.
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