Released 01/08/2022 - Joint media release
The ACT Government is investing in infrastructure that is built for Canberra, to ensure that we continue to be one of the most liveable cities in the world.
The 2022-23 ACT Budget will deliver a five year Infrastructure Investment Program of around $7 billion.
This includes the Canberra Hospital expansion, CIT Woden, extending light rail, the construction of the new Canberra Theatre, new schools and more suburban infrastructure across the Territory.
With COVID-19 and global inflationary pressures impacting the national infrastructure market, the Government will update our long-term Infrastructure Plan to deliver a well-planned and diversified program of asset acquisition, construction and digital projects that creates jobs across the economy.
The Infrastructure Plan update will focus on priority areas of infrastructure investment for the government - health, education, transport, city services, climate action as well as arts, entertainment and sports.
Through this process we will assess future projects and the external factors influencing their delivery so we can continue to move our infrastructure priorities forward over the next decade.
A major part of the government’s infrastructure investment in this year’s Budget is more than $820 million in health infrastructure - delivering expanded facilities, better community health infrastructure and new state-of-the-art equipment to ensure Canberrans continue to receive world class health care.
These investments are part of our plan for the health system, delivering exceptional health care with state-of-the-art clinical equipment in new and renewed facilities.
The Budget includes almost $91 million in new funding at the Canberra Hospital campus. This includes:
- Design and fit-out of a 64 bed inpatient unit
- Design work, costing and demolition for a new Pathology building
- Design and costing for a new inpatient building
- Planning for the demolition of Building 4
- Public wayfinding upgrades to make the campus more user friendly
- Staging and decanting planning for the next phases of the Master Plan
The funding to Canberra Hospital will also deliver new state-of-the-art clinical equipment, including a medical-linear accelerator, PET scanner, CT scanner, Nuclear Medicine Gamma Camera and Nuclear Medicine SPECT/CT. Additional building electrical upgrades and the first step to delivering a palliative care ward at Canberra Hospital are also funded.
The Budget will also fund the delivery of the Southside Hydrotherapy pool at Tuggeranong Lakeside Leisure Centre, which was an important election commitment for the Government.
Quotes attributable to Chief Minister and Treasurer, Andrew Barr:
The ACT Government is making significant investments to build Canberra’s future.
Our investment in infrastructure that is built for Canberra will ensure that we remain one of the world’s most liveable cities.
The updated Infrastructure Plan will outline the infrastructure our city will need as our population grows.
With the election of the Albanese Government, there is an opportunity to partner with the Commonwealth in infrastructure planning, financing and delivery. I look forward to working with the new Federal Government on our joint priorities.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health, Rachel Stephen-Smith:
Ensuring Canberrans have access to quality health facilities and services will always be a priority for the ACT Government.
The investments we are making in health and wellbeing infrastructure through this Budget demonstrate our commitment to meeting the healthcare needs of Canberrans.
The Canberra Hospital Master Plan builds on the current expansion – the largest investment in health infrastructure since self-government – to ensure the hospital will meet the needs of our growing city and region into the future.
We’re also investing in state-of-the-art equipment so our hardworking clinicians can continue delivering exceptional specialised care to Canberrans.
- Statement ends -
Andrew Barr, MLA | Rachel Stephen-Smith, MLA | Media Releases