The month in review: Canberra
By Herron Todd White
November, 2009
The growth of Canberra’s population has lead to the need
to update infrastructure. Currently the two major projects
are the development of Canberra Airport and upgrading
infrastructure in Gungahlin to cope with the continual
growth in the region.
The first stage of Canberra Airport’s new $350 million
terminal development began in April this year after
being put on hold for four months due to the global
financial crisis. The development is to be completed in an
independent three stage development plan.
Of these three stages, the first includes construction of
a new Southern Terminal Concourse, aircraft parking
apron, new entry road systems and multi-deck car park
adjoining existing terminal. This stage of the development
is expected to be completed and open in July next year.
The new road system combined with two new structured
car parks will ensure travelers will not need to cross a
road to reach the terminal, a major problem with many
airports today.
This upgrade of airport infrastructure is expected to create
300 construction jobs onsite, plus additional 950 jobs off-site over the course of the three stage development. The
airport development along with the expected arrival of
an airport hotel within the next five years will continue
to improve Canberra’s infrastructure while creating many
jobs over the coming years.
With the 2009/2010 budget injecting $274 million into
Canberra through the Capital Works Program, a significant
portion is set aside for works in Gungahlin. Gungahlin
is Canberra’s newest region with new residential land
releases and development occurring. However it does
not appear to contain the necessary infrastructure to
support its ever-increasing population growth at this
point in time. Gungahlin has grown rapidly over the past
five years to a current population of 35,000.
Roads and transportation links require significant
upgrades, as current systems begin to feel the pressure
building. This is a result of a number of compounding
factors. Firstly, the infrastructure within Gungahlin has
not been able to provide enough jobs for the population
base within the locale and secondly, all city-bound traffic
is funneled along Northbourne Ave. With a continual
growth in population, Gungahlin residents will be faced
with increasing travel times between work and home.
The recent completion of the Gungahlin Drive Extension
has provided some relief, with a duplication of the project
recently commissioned.
A $67 million plan has been approved to construct
Gungahlin College, library, a local park and CIT facility in
the same precinct. Harrison School also opened in 2008,
providing education for pre-school and primary school
students, with Harrison High School set to open in 2012.
This facility is set to educate in excess of 800 students.
Nearby, the Exhibition Park In Canberra (EPIC) already
caters for a large portion of events and a $20 million
dollar pool and leisure centre is planned, accompanying
an enclosed oval. The Sustainable Transport Action Plan
2010-2016 has also been initiated in order to review
pedestrian and cycling infrastructure across Canberra,
inclusive of Gungahlin.
The development works to the Canberra Airport and
upgrading infrastructure in the Gungahlin district are
two examples of private sector and government funded
infrastructure programs occurring in the Canberra
region.
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