Page 1340 - Week 04 - Thursday, 5 May 2022
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The committee understands that the refurbishment and installation of lights at Gungahlin skate park is an important issue. It will maintain the quality of an excellent sporting and recreational facility for the enjoyment of students and the wider community, and enhance mental and physical health. The installation of lights would also enable the park to be used up until 10 pm and generate business at food and drink venues in the area.
Noting these issues, the committee resolved at its private meeting on 29 March 2022 to expand its scope to inquire into skating facilities across the ACT, noting that many skaters attend multiple skate parks in the territory. The committee also resolved to commence the inquiry later this year to better fit with its schedule of inquiries underway or commencing in the near future and to prepare an expanded scope for an ACT skating facilities inquiry.
MR BRADDOCK (Yerrabi) (6.06), by leave: Firstly, I would like to thank the education and community inclusion committee for its consideration of the petition, which was led by Mr Liam O’Connell, to upgrade the Gungahlin skate park. I fully agree with the committee’s view that there needs to be an inquiry into skate parks ACT-wide. This inquiry is an excellent result of advocacy by the ACT skate park community, which I have had the delight of working with. I would also like to acknowledge Ms Fair Lee Fast, a powerful behind-the-scenes advocate in this space.
Canberra was once the skate park capital of the Southern Hemisphere. Unfortunately, Canberra is beginning to fall behind in the provision and management of contemporary skate parks. Some facilities are lacking in repair and maintenance, and Canberra does not yet have a vertical half-pipe that meets international competition standards. I am keen to see a comprehensive, long-term facilities management plan that sets out how we locate, design, build, maintain and upgrade skate park facilities. Through this we can treat skate parks as a much-loved community asset.
I am excited to see that the ACT government will undertake feasibility and preliminary design works for the lighting at Gungahlin skate park and thank Minister Chris Steel for this. This will extend the hours of the day that the skate park can be used and further activate this much-loved recreational facility.
Environment, Climate Change and Biodiversity—Standing Committee
Statement by chair
DR PATERSON (Murrumbidgee) (6.07): Pursuant to standing order 246A, I wish to make a statement on behalf of the Standing Committee on Environment, Climate Change and Biodiversity relating to statutory appointments in accordance with continuing resolution 5A. I inform the Assembly that during the reporting period 1 July to 31 December 2021 the committee considered 10 appointments to the scientific committee and four appointments to the ACT Climate Change Council. I present the following paper:
Environment, Climate Change and Biodiversity—Standing Committee—Schedule of Statutory Appointments—10th Assembly—Period 1 July to 31 December 2021.
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