Page 2337 - Week 08 - Thursday, 5 August 2021
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Thursday, 5 August 2021
MADAM SPEAKER (Ms Burch) (10.00): Members:
Dhawura nguna, dhawura Ngunnawal.
Yanggu ngalawiri, dhunimanyin Ngunnawalwari dhawurawari.
Nginggada Dindi dhawura Ngunnaawalbun yindjumaralidjinyin.
The words I have just spoken are in the language of the traditional custodians and translate to:
This is Ngunnawal country.
Today we are gathering on Ngunnawal country.
We always pay respect to Elders, female and male, and Ngunnawal country.
Members, I ask you to stand in silence and pray or reflect on our responsibilities to the people of the Australian Capital Territory.
Visitors
MADAM SPEAKER: I would like to acknowledge that in the gallery we are joined by—and you are most welcome to be here—Ainslie Primary School years 5 and 6 students. Welcome, Ainslie primary.
Environment—Healthy Waterways project
Ministerial statement
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong—Attorney-General, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Gaming and Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction) (10.02): I am pleased to inform the Assembly and the community of the work done under the ACT Healthy Waterways program, as I know this is an issue of great interest to all parties in the Assembly.
For years now, blue-green algal blooms have afflicted our urban lakes. Lake Tuggeranong is regularly closed in summer due to outbreaks of blue-green algae, and last summer was one of the worst for blue-green algae in Lake Burley Griffin in years. Our other urban ponds are not immune from this either. Blue-green algal blooms are a symptom of urban water pollution, which means that there are likely to be other less-apparent pollutants in our waterways as well.
Our urban lakes and ponds were designed to trap pollution bound for the Murrumbidgee River and downstream communities, and they are doing this job extremely well. However, today’s community expectations are broader than just this purpose. The community also values our lakes and ponds for recreation, amenity and for the commercial values they provide. They can be equally great places to hold a picnic or a triathlon. Residents and businesses alike are attracted to lakeshore views—think of the Kingston foreshore. But these values are diminished every time there is an algal bloom.
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