ACT Budget 2021: $17.5 million upgrades for 11 local shops

As part of the budget, 11 local shops in Canberra are in line for improvements, with the ACT government planning to spend $17.5 million on upgrades of shopping centres across the city.

The local shops upgrades will form part of an almost $29 million spend on community infrastructure improvements over the next four years, to be announced in the upcoming territory budget.

Local shopping centres that will receive upgrades are Calwell, Campbell, Cooleman Court, Duffy, Evatt, Gwydir Square in Kaleen, Kippax, Lanyon, Macquarie, Monash and Narrabundah.

The ACT government has also allocated $4.75 million over the next three years for upgrades to the Tuggeranong foreshore.

There has been $1.8 million set aside for two new dog parks in Franklin and Lanyon and $3 million for upgrades at playgrounds in Aranda, Chisholm, Gordon, Kaleen, Lyons and Ngunnawal.

Another $1 million has been allocated for new toilets at the Florey local shops and the Farrer nature play space.

The ACT budget for 2021-22 is set to be handed down at the end of the month. The August 31 budget will be the ACT's government's second budget for 2021, after the 2020-21 budget was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Barr said in his annual State of the Territory address on Monday the government would target job creation, in an attempt to achieve a target of 250,000 local jobs by 2025.

"In the forthcoming territory budget we will support job creation through record investments in our public health and education and training systems, as well as public housing," he said.

The $17.5 million local shops upgrades was an election promise from Labor before last year's ACT election.

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As part of the funding, construction will start on upgrades at Campbell, Duffy and Gwydir Square in Kaleen. The money will also go towards the next phase of design work and construction in Calwell, Evatt, Kippax, Lanyon, Macquarie and Narrabundah.

Design work will progress on upgrades to Brierly Street at Cooleman Court.

"Investment in suburban precincts will create jobs and support urban renewal across Canberra," Mr Barr said.

City Services Minister Chris Steel said the government would seek community feedback on playground improvements and the new dog park.

"Each play space is unique, and we will be engaging with the local communities in each suburb to ask what kind of play elements they'd like to see," Mr Steel said.

"Canberrans will be invited to provide feedback on the proposed sites for the dog parks and their inclusions, like obstacle and agility courses, seating and shade amenities."

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