The ACT Government has released the Better Suburbs Statement 22-23, a summary of the progress made in 2022–23 to deliver city services, infrastructure, and public facilities, according to the priorities of the Better Suburbs Statement 2030 (2018).

“We are upgrading infrastructure in suburbs all around Canberra to make sure our city has the right mix of infrastructure as it continues to grow,” said Chris Steel, ACT Minister for Transport and City Services.

“The Better Suburbs Budget Statement tracks our investment and delivery progress for a range of city services priorities that were identified by Canberrans for Canberrans.”

The Better Suburbs Statement was developed in 2018 through a deliberative democratic process that brought together a representative group of 54 Canberrans to make collective decisions about services for our city. Together, this group identified 14 key priorities, along with clear guidance on how the ACT Government should focus its investment to secure the future of these services.

The priorities include lakes, ponds and wetlands, stormwater and water quality; street and park trees; household waste and recycling; roads; parks and open spaces, including mowing; libraries; footpaths, verges, and nature strips; graffiti and community engagement; streetlights; play spaces; shopping centres; responsible pet ownership; and community ovals and fitness stations.

“We’re investing a significant amount in new and upgraded suburban infrastructure projects from local shops, playgrounds, and dog parks, right through to additional road and path maintenance, better sports grounds, and stormwater improvements,” Mr Steel said.

Lakes, ponds and wetlands, stormwater and water quality

In 2022-23, the ACT Government spent $11.8 million on new and upgraded stormwater infrastructure; completed essential stormwater upgrades in Odgers and Verity lanes within the Sydney and Melbourne buildings; and spent $8.2 million on the Healthy Waterways program.

In 2023-24, the government will spend $5.3 million for stormwater upgrades in the Kippax Group Centre, and major stormwater upgrades will begin construction in the inner north and inner south.

Street and park trees

In 2022-23, the ACT Government planted 54,000 trees; spent $2 million to expand the Holder depot to support the City Services tree team; and funded 27 Adopt-a-Park projects.

In 2023-24, the government has budgeted $23.4 million over four years for more tree maintenance and to plant more trees across the ACT.

Household waste and recycling

In 2022-23, 25,612 tonnes of green waste were collected through green waste bin collections; more than 62 million containers were returned through the Container Deposit Scheme; 1,317 tonnes of food and organic waste were collected in the FOGO pilot; and there was a 35 per cent recovery rate for the bulky waste collection service.

In 2023-24, the ACT Government will award the contract for the finance, design, construction, operations and maintenance of the new Materials Recovery Facility in Hume; invest $8.7 million to deliver a new northside green waste facility; and submit the draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Materials Recovery Facility and the draft Environmental Impact Statement for the FOGO facility.

Roads

In 2022-23, the ACT Government invested $153 million in road maintenance over four years (including Roads to Recovery funding); repaired more than 13,000 potholes repaired; resurfaced more than 1 million square metres of road; and increased annual expenditure on road maintenance by 52 per cent (not including Roads to Recovery funding).

In 2023-24, the government will complete the third stage of the Gundaroo Drive duplication; start construction on the new Molonglo River Bridge; begin major construction on the Monaro Highway upgrade; and use more asphalt and heavy patching to maintain the road network.

Parks and open spaces, including mowing

In 2022-23, the ACT Government spent $1.2 million to support a rapid response mowing team; and maintained 6,800 hectares of public land.

In 2023–24, the government budgeted $2.6 million to continue the rapid response mowing team and improve safety for staff working along roadsides; $494,000 for improvements at Telopea Park, including lighting and landscaping; and $3.2 million for further upgrades at Yerrabi Pond District Park. Construction will begin on Tuggeranong Foreshore improvements.

Library services

In 2022–23, the ACT acquired more than 68,000 new resources for in-branch collections; the public accessed more than 860,000 digital resources; and the ACT Government spent more than $570,000 to upgrade Tuggeranong Library.

In 2023–24, the government will spend $200,000 to design a new Molonglo Library and community centre, and $895,000 for more support at libraries, including additional staff.

Footpaths, verges, and nature strips

In 2022-23, the ACT Government invested $3.8 million in new active travel infrastructure and programs to support safe active travel to school; applied more than 1,500 blue wayfinding stencils to paths around 53 schools; progressed detailed design for the Sulwood Drive shared path; completed a feasibility study on active travel in the Gungahlin Town Centre; completed stage two of the Belconnen Bikeway; and consulted the community about the draft Active Travel Plan and best practice design guide for urban intersections and other active travel infrastructure.

In 2023-24, the government will invest more than $26 million in new active travel infrastructure, path maintenance and programs to support safe active travel to school; $2.6 million to upgrade the shared path between Cunningham Street and Bowen Park in Kingston; and $494,000 to improve Telopea Park, including new formalised paths. Overall, it will provide more than 40 per cent additional funding to maintain the footpath and cycle network. It will work on feasibility and design of priority paths identified in the Active Travel Plan; and design and construct Stage 1 of the Garden City Cycle Route to better connect inner north suburbs.

Graffiti and community engagement

In 2022-23, 5,000 people attended Canberra’s first urban street art festival, Surface, and four new street art murals were painted across the ACT.

In 2023-24, new street murals will be painted at the Farrer and Florey public toilets.

Streetlights

In 2022-23, more than 2,350 streetlights received LED upgrades, and 31 bus shelters received solar lighting.

In 2023-24, the ACT Government will invest $513,000 to improve streetlighting across the ACT.

Play spaces

In 2022-23, the ACT Government spent $2.6 million on a destination style play space in the inner north, and refreshed 45 play spaces to improve safety.

In 2023-24, the government will upgrade or create new play spaces in Aranda, Calwell, Casey, Chisholm, Griffith, Gordon, Kaleen, Lyons, Macquarie, Narrabundah, and Ngunnawal.

Shopping centre experience

In 2022-23, the ACT Government spent $1 million to refurbish the Charnwood shops, and upgraded Kaleen, Duffy, and Campbell shops.

In 2023-24, nine shopping centres – Calwell, Charnwood, Evatt, Lanyon Valley, Macquarie, Monash, Narrabundah, Pialligo, and Weston – will be upgraded. As well as an ongoing investment of $17.5 million from 2020-21 on shopping centre and other improvements, the government will spend  $25 million to upgrade Dickson shops to support local businesses as part of a package to transform the City Centre and Dickson.

Responsible pet ownership

In 2022–23, more than 2,500 students took part in the dog education program at schools, learning how to interact safely with dogs. The dogs parks in Casey and O’Connor were refreshed.

In 2023-24, work will begin on new dog parks in Franklin and the Lanyon Valley.

Community ovals and fitness stations

In 2022-23, the ACT Government spent $796,000 on sportsgrounds, and upgraded five changerooms to make them female-friendly.

In 2023-24, the government will spend $1.3 million to upgrade Hawker District Playing Fields, and will upgrade or install new LED lighting at five sportsgrounds.

“These investments in city services will support a city that is green and vibrant, attractive and well maintained with easy access to shops and recreational facilities via roads, pathways and public transport,” Mr Steel said.