A decision on Canberra's tram line from Gungahlin is drawing close, with Capital Metro Minister Simon Corbell saying on Wednesday the government will consider the final business case in the next month or two.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mr Corbell confirmed an extension to Russell was still on the table, with a line around Vernon Circle (around City Hill), or London Circuit, but said this would be considered separately from the final business case.
"Subsequent extensions to Russell and to further into the city but without going completely to Russell will be considered after the business case," Mr Corbell said.
Mr Corbell said "the first considerations" on route extensions would be how they integrated with West Basin and the government's City to the Lake project.
He said this brought "into play whether any possible extension to Russell should travel via Vernon Circle, London Circuit or into the CBD itself".
Mr Corbell said the forthcoming final business case would just be for the Gungahlin to the city link.
Mr Corbell said extensions to the line would be easier and more affordable once the first stage was in place.
He said the experience in Adelaide was that extensions were "very manageable", with an extra two or three kilometres built at a time, without the need to buy trams, build a maintenance depot or train a workforce.
Labor backbencher Yvette Berry questioned Mr Corbell on how he would ensure the job benefits would go to Canberrans.
Mr Corbell said the rail line was here for the long term, providing operations jobs for locals. During construction the government was working to make sure local subcontractors got work on the line.
Mr Corbell said Dickson and Braddon would be significant beneficiaries of the project. Dickson would host the major tram station between Gungahlin and the city and also would be the place for passengers to transfer to an east-west running bus service.
Dickson would be strengthened as a retail destination and the government was looking to locate more jobs there, which would further strengthen retail, he said.
Capital Metro director Emma Thomas said the light rail would provide life-changing work for Canberra's future.
She said of an employee on the new Gold Coast light rail line "had seen ... his whole life being changed by the opportunity to be a light rail operator".
Mr Corbell said light rail was an opportunity for Canberrans to develop their skills.
He said it had not yet been determined whether a private provider or the Canberra Institute of Technology would provide these upskilling services.
Ms Thomas said employment for the Gold Coast light rail had been sourced from the local area and Capital Metro also expected this to take place in Canberra.