Ms SCRYMGOUR - 2009-11-26
Can you please update the House on the infrastructure projects under way in Alice Springs and Central Australia?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. I know she also has close connections to Central Australia. This is a good news story. I know the member for Greatorex will just love this one. It is all about protecting jobs and infrastructure in Central Australia.
This financial year, the Treasurer announced a record $1.3bn infrastructure budget across the Northern Territory. That is protecting around 2500 jobs. In Central Australia, we have not missed out. Approximately $293m is to be spent in the 2009-10 financial year in Central Australia alone. That is about 21% of the overall infrastructure budget. This is a record investment in the region - $110m more than last year’s record. Most importantly, $72m of that is already under way in the first four months of this financial year. Industry has certainly welcomed this quick injection of dollars.
One area, in particular - while we have the students here from Ross Park - is education. That is something the Henderson Labor government really values.
In Alice Springs, we have the building of the youth hub coming together. This week, the Chief Minister and I were at the Alice Springs High School campus where we looked at the new works under way by Asbuild (NT), a local building company, to renovate and upgrade the facilities in preparation for next year and the new Centralian Middle School.
In my electorate, schools such as Yuendumu and Lajamanu are benefiting. Also, in the Utopia region, we have already opened a new middle school at Alparra.
Through our partnership with the Australian government and Building the Education Revolution dollars - which I know the opposition really loved – there is $35m for Central Australia alone. That is for major upgrades to every primary, secondary and high school. I have recently been through some of the schools in Alice Springs, including in the member for Greatorex’s electorate at Acacia Hill and Sadadeen Primary School. They are very excited about the new classrooms going up ready for next year.
In the member for Braitling’s electorate, at Braitling Primary School, they are very excited, as well as the School of the Air. The Gillen Primary School - I know the member for Araluen does a lot of hard work there - is very excited about the new buildings being built there.
$60m this financial year is going into health infrastructure in Alice Springs - $59m into the new accident and emergency service department in our hospital. There are many more dollars flowing into our remote clinics in the region of Central Australia.
For an issue which is close to my heart – roads - there is $50m. In my electorate, the Tanami and the Pine Hill Access Road at Ti Tree are getting a significant injection of dollars, particularly at Pine Hill, which is going to support the growing horticulture developments and support jobs for local Anmatjere people. There are also upgrades for the Santa Teresa Road, Kintore Road, Maryvale Road, and the Sandover Highway.
This government is totally committed to Alice Springs and Central Australia. These examples of the huge investment the Treasurer and this government is putting into infrastructure in Central Australia clearly demonstrates this commitment. I am proud to be a member of this government. I look forward to more programs and infrastructure initiatives being delivered in Alice Springs, my home town, in 2010.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. I know she also has close connections to Central Australia. This is a good news story. I know the member for Greatorex will just love this one. It is all about protecting jobs and infrastructure in Central Australia.
This financial year, the Treasurer announced a record $1.3bn infrastructure budget across the Northern Territory. That is protecting around 2500 jobs. In Central Australia, we have not missed out. Approximately $293m is to be spent in the 2009-10 financial year in Central Australia alone. That is about 21% of the overall infrastructure budget. This is a record investment in the region - $110m more than last year’s record. Most importantly, $72m of that is already under way in the first four months of this financial year. Industry has certainly welcomed this quick injection of dollars.
One area, in particular - while we have the students here from Ross Park - is education. That is something the Henderson Labor government really values.
In Alice Springs, we have the building of the youth hub coming together. This week, the Chief Minister and I were at the Alice Springs High School campus where we looked at the new works under way by Asbuild (NT), a local building company, to renovate and upgrade the facilities in preparation for next year and the new Centralian Middle School.
In my electorate, schools such as Yuendumu and Lajamanu are benefiting. Also, in the Utopia region, we have already opened a new middle school at Alparra.
Through our partnership with the Australian government and Building the Education Revolution dollars - which I know the opposition really loved – there is $35m for Central Australia alone. That is for major upgrades to every primary, secondary and high school. I have recently been through some of the schools in Alice Springs, including in the member for Greatorex’s electorate at Acacia Hill and Sadadeen Primary School. They are very excited about the new classrooms going up ready for next year.
In the member for Braitling’s electorate, at Braitling Primary School, they are very excited, as well as the School of the Air. The Gillen Primary School - I know the member for Araluen does a lot of hard work there - is very excited about the new buildings being built there.
$60m this financial year is going into health infrastructure in Alice Springs - $59m into the new accident and emergency service department in our hospital. There are many more dollars flowing into our remote clinics in the region of Central Australia.
For an issue which is close to my heart – roads - there is $50m. In my electorate, the Tanami and the Pine Hill Access Road at Ti Tree are getting a significant injection of dollars, particularly at Pine Hill, which is going to support the growing horticulture developments and support jobs for local Anmatjere people. There are also upgrades for the Santa Teresa Road, Kintore Road, Maryvale Road, and the Sandover Highway.
This government is totally committed to Alice Springs and Central Australia. These examples of the huge investment the Treasurer and this government is putting into infrastructure in Central Australia clearly demonstrates this commitment. I am proud to be a member of this government. I look forward to more programs and infrastructure initiatives being delivered in Alice Springs, my home town, in 2010.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016