Chief Minister Andrew Barr will hand down the Territory Budget on 2 August. Photo: Region.
Forget Floriade, Enlighten and even the Multicultural Festival – there are few events more exciting in the Canberra calendar than the day the Territory Budget is handed down.
(No sarcasm intended – for some of us, this is a pretty exciting time.)
This year, the Budget will be delivered on Tuesday, 2 August, by Chief Minister Andrew Barr.
Here’s a wrap of what’s been promised in the Budget so far. But there will be more announcements next week.
The government says new Budget funding will ensure homelessness programs established during the pandemic can continue. Photo: File.
Community sector support
The government will provide $2.21 million over two years in additional funding to the specialist homelessness sector. It says this will help increase service capacity so that programs established during the COVID-19 pandemic can continue.
A further $1.55 million will also go to service system enhancements and improving data collection in the sector.
Palliative Care ACT will receive $2.59 million to fund Leo’s Place on an ongoing basis following a successful trial. It’s the only non-clinical, home-like palliative care respite facility in the ACT.
$825,000 over four years will go towards various investments for carers.
$9.4 million over four years will go towards continuing “a holistic model of health service delivery” for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander detainees at the Alexander Maconochie Centre.
Grant funding of $750,000 will be provided to Hands Across Canberra, which administers the Chief Minister’s Charitable Fund. The money will be used to buy land for the development of two charity house projects. Proceeds from the sales will go towards other charities.
Total spend: $17.325 million
Legal assistance services
The government has pledged $1.072 million over three years to Canberra Community Law so it can continue to deliver free legal services, including those specialising in public housing.
Aboriginal Legal Services NSW/ACT will get $743,000 over two years to establish a new Care and Protection Legal Advocacy Service and $470,000 over three years to continue the Trial Advocate position which provides legal assistance to Indigenous Canberrans.
$700,000 will also be provided to CARE ACT over three years to provide ongoing base funding to enable it to continue the Mobile Debt Clinic which supports Canberrans experiencing financial abuse as a result of domestic and family violence.
Total spend: $2.985 million
Roads
A $24 million package of road safety works will lead to key southside intersections having traffic lights installed.
The intersections are Streeton Drive/Namatjira Drive in Chapman, Streeton Drive/Heysen Street in Weston, Tharwa Drive/Lawrence Wackett Crescent in Theodore, and Tharwa Drive/Norman Lindsay Street in Conder.
That includes funding for design work to improve Hume Circle in the inner south, new pedestrian crossings and funding for another section of the Belconnen Bikeway.
Total spend: $24 million
The closure of three bridges in the Umbagong District Park had been a source of growing frustration for the community. Photo: File.
Suburban infrastructure
$1.2 million will pay for 10 new staff across three rapid response mowing teams and $2.4 million will expand City Services’ Holder depot.
The Budget is also pledging $3.8 million to replace three timber bridges in the Umbagong District Park, $200,000 for early planning works for a library in the Molonglo commercial centre, and a playground and recreation park in Watson at a cost of $2.6 million.
Almost $9 million will be allocated to moving a green waste collection and processing and landscape depot from Parkwood Road to Stockdill Drive.
$1 million will go towards landscaping and paving upgrades at Charnwood Shopping Centre.
Total spend: $20.2 million
Minister for Education Yvette Berry announced multiple education infrastructure investments would be funded through this year’s ACT Budget. Photo: ACT Government.
Education
The Government has allocated $76.75 million to build an 800-student capacity school in Whitlam and $39 million to expand Majura Primary School by 300 student places and add three new demountable classrooms to the system.
$1 million will go towards planning and design work for a new college in Gungahlin and top up the $118 million Margaret Hendry extension/Taylor high school build project by $14.8 million.
A $1.14 million task force will also be set up to address school safety.
Total spend: $132.69 million
Sport
The Budget will allocate $9.43 million in its next Budget to the new Gungahlin Tennis Centre, and fund scoping works for future upgrades to the Dickson and Manuka pools.
$1.82 million over three years will support six local organisations to encourage more children to get active and stay healthy.
Total spend: $11.25 million
Minister for Water Shane Rattenbury announced $4.2 million in funding would go towards the Office for Water. Photo: Lottie Twyford.
Environment
$4.2 million over the next two years will be spent establishing an Office for Water as a new central coordination point for water policy.
The ACT’s Environment Protection Authority will get $722,000 in funding over two years to support compliance.
Another $10 million will go to nature conservation.
Total spend: $14.922 million
Tourism
The Budget will pay for $600,000 worth of domestic and international destination marketing and plunge $1 million to support tourism businesses through grant programs.
$1 million over four years will be invested into Floriade and the Enlighten Festival, while a further $500,000 will be invested in the Major Event Fund this financial year.
Total spend: $3.1 million
Original Article published by Lottie Twyford on Riotact.
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