The upcoming ACT Budget will include funding for suburban maintenance to provide neater, greener suburbs with more trees and more mowing, according to the Minister for Transport and City Services, Meegan Fitzharris.
“With around 4,000 new homes being added to our city every year, it’s vital we continue to invest in more mowing, weeding, graffiti removal, cleaning of bus shelters and the maintenance of local parks and trees in each Budget,” Ms Fitzharris said.
“This year, our City Services funding will continue to grow to ensure we can deliver the essential services the community expects in our established suburbs that have expanded, and in new, greenfield residential developments.”
She said 681 City Services workers were employed to help maintain the city, and the $19.8 million funding boost provided in the Budget would step up the frequency of these services and provide faster responses to local maintenance works.
“There will also be $300,000 for the ongoing maintenance of playgrounds to ensure they are safe and meet current compliance standards,” Ms Fitzharris said.
“Over the next four years we will deliver even more services across Canberra’s new and established suburbs to ensure we keep up with growing demand.”
The Minister said the Budget would also provide $377,000 to begin the planting of 1,330 trees.
“These will primarily be planted in residential streets where the urban forest is declining, improving Canberra’s unique green canopy and helping to cool our suburbs,” Ms Fitzharris said.
