PM Transcripts

FOR PRESS: P. M. No. 14/ 1959
STATEMENT BY THE ACTING PRIME MINISTER. RT. HON. J, McEWEN.
The Federal Cabinet has not, as reported, approved a
five-year plan for the development of Canberra at a cost of
million from ist July next.
No decision in these terms has been made and the
programme for governmental works and housing in Canberra will
continue to be subject to the normal annual budget procedures.
Cabinet has given consideration to plans for the
development of Canberra and has decided that, in addition to
providing, at broadly the present level of expenditure, for
the essential requirements such as engineering services and
housing arising out of the planned transfer of Departments to
Canberra and the normal growth of Canberra, it should be the
objective to provide for the introduction of some features to
develop the national character of the capital.
A programme of the order of œ 3 million, spread over
the next five years, was envisaged for these special features.
A specific decision by Cabinet would still be necessary before
any particular project was coir~ nenced. Cabinet had authorised
work on the Lakes Scheme to begin without delay.
CANBERRA, A. C. T.
1st May, 1959.