The ACT Government’s 2010-11 Capital Works Program December 2010 Quarterly Progress Report has shown government expenditure for this financial year stands at $273.622 million or 34% of available funds for the year. This compares with expenditure for the same period last year of $180.280 million, or 23%.

 

Treasurer Katy Gallagher said significant work is continuing on the development of Canberra's hospitals and healthcare facilities, including the multi-storey car park at the Canberra Hospital, part of whch became operational in December 2010 with a total of 1531 car and 28 motor bike parking spaces. Level 8 is due for completion in June this year.

 

"Construction continues on the 146 bed Women's and Children's Hospital, while site establishment and documentation is being finalised on the Adult Mental Health Inpatient Facility which will provide for the construction of a 40 bed facility at the Canberra Hospital," Ms Gallagher said.

 

"Gungahlin College was largely complete and later opened to its first students at the beginning of the 2011 school year, while the Building the Education Revolution (BER) program is progressing ahead of schedule.

 

"The ACT was the first jurisdiction to complete all National School Pride (NSP) projects, with 84projects at 82 public schools completed by March 2010. In the December 2010 quarter, 59 of 68 Primary School projects under the 21st Century (P21) Program had been completed, including a new science building at Florey Primary School and a new library at Chapman Primary School.

 

"12 social housing dwellings in Curtin and three in O'Connor were handed over as part of the Stage 2 $76 million Nation Building and Jobs Plan - Social Housing project. Stage 1 provided 57 new dwellings across the Territory by September 2010 and Stage 2 will provide a further 294.

 

"Infrastructure projects progressed to facilitate further land releases, and preliminary planning, approvals, consultation, procurement, tendering and construction activities were undertaken during the December quarter, including the sale of one multi-development site in Franklin and two in the new Molonglo suburb of Wright," she said.

 

The December quarter report provides details of other works including upgrades to Emergency Services, Justice, Corrections and Police Facilities; the Canberra Institute of Technology; and youth, childcare and community facilities.

 

The report can be found at http://www.treasury.act.gov.au/about/publications.shtml