Upgrades to a major Canberra thoroughfare and bike paths are among projects ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has raised in a letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison proposing talks to boost the economy.
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The letter on Friday called for talks to ramp up infrastructure projects in Canberra as governments mobilise to cushion the national economy from the shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr Barr included a Parkes Way corridor study, parking facilities on the Acton Peninsula, and cycle way projects on Commonwealth land in a list of projects he said would help improve the national capital's economic activity.
"There is a significant opportunity to boost local economic growth associated with infrastructure projects associated with national interests in the ACT," Mr Barr told the Prime Minister.
The letter, sent ahead of the federal budget next month, listed a series of projects targeting infrastructure in areas managed by the National Capital Authority, the federal agency overseeing Commonwealth land in Canberra.
"These projects not only provide economic growth opportunities for the ACT region but are also directly beneficial to the Commonwealth government as assets of the National Capital Authority or otherwise would be on designated land," Mr Barr said in the letter.
Among projects listed were new tourist signs on Commonwealth land, improvements to Vernon Circle, landscaping works for City Hill and new electric car charging points at Commonwealth buildings in the parliamentary zone.
Another proposed infrastructure spend would increase the capacity of the Owen Dixon-William Slim intersection. Works could include constructing a new southbound bridge over Ginninderra Creek and a new underpass to accommodate a widened carriageway.
Mr Barr also raised modernising the Commonwealth passenger fleet with electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles, a project which would involve replacing 1000 vehicles.
The ACT government has found the cost of leasing an electric vehicle over four years is now comparable to that for an internal combustion engine vehicle.
"The infrastructure projects ... will bring shared benefits for the region's economy and assets, and enable infrastructure investment and urban development for many years to come by removing current impediments to significant city shaping projects," he said.
"Stimulating the economy through projects to enhance and maintain these assets will not only provide economic benefits at a time when Australians are feeling the impacts of the global pandemic, but will also benefit Canberrans, visitors and businesses into the future."
A Parkes Way corridor study could investigate removing Coranderrk Pond, a redesigned intersection, the removal of Wendouree Drive and a new service road and car park.
"The ACT government would also like to note that the NCA has proposed upgrades to strengthen the Commonwealth Avenue bridge and this is strongly supported by ACT government," Mr Barr said.
He said the territory government also supported any upgrades to event infrastructure in Commonwealth Park and the parliamentary zone to support major events.
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The Barr government has made a four-year $4 billion infrastructure spending blitz the centrepiece of its plan to rebuild the ACT from the once-in-a-century economic shock of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The economic recovery plan relies heavily on infrastructure spending, with $4 billion to be invested in health, transport, schools, tertiary education and housing projects in the next four years.
However, the plan doesn't include any major new projects, with the lion's share of the spending allocated to items which have been on the Barr government's infrastructure agenda for a number of years.