Page 123 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 24 May 1989
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There have been some decisions which for old-time Canberrans are very regrettable and which have reduced, in my eyes, the real character of Canberra. So I am happy to have this debate so early in the life of the Assembly, so that we can place on record what I believe is the cross-party support for the preservation of the ACT's heritage.
As has been pointed out, Canberra is not an old city, but it is nevertheless one of great diversity. There are aspects within Canberra of rural life, urban life, government life and so on, which are really crucial to the nature of the place, and they must be protected.
This is certainly an issue which the Labor Party and the Labor Government are totally committed to pursuing, and with some vigour. We are also aware, of course, that it is a matter of public concern - more so perhaps in recent years than earlier - and that the public is now vitally interested in protecting both the natural and the cultural heritage of the ACT, as it is throughout Australia, I believe.
There is also a need for there to be much greater certainty in the ACT, particularly over what is permissible and what is desirable in relation to heritage areas. I believe that the area where we have had the greatest difficulty is in introducing some degree of certainty - some guidelines for people to follow. I think that Mr Humphries is quite right in alluding to that matter.
Of course, also in the ACT, in addition to the heritage areas, there are streets and suburbs which, while they may not be of notable historical significance, let alone of national historical significance, are of a significance in their own right to Canberra. We would want to see them preserved, even though they may not be of great historical value. I think everybody can think of areas like that.
What the Government is planning to do in the area of heritage is to introduce necessary planning and heritage legislation. We would like to do that at an early date, but I think it is also necessary to look at strengthening the role of the ACT Heritage Committee. I think it is clear that that Committee needs legislative backing, it needs some power and some teeth. So we would look to empowering the ACT Heritage Committee to make its role clearer and its powers much more well-defined.
I think integral to anything that we do on heritage is the preparation of a register of heritage areas in the ACT. A great deal of work has been put in on that already by some of the non-government organisations - in particular, those with an interest in heritage, such as the National Trust. Most of those organisations have a list of some kind which could be drawn upon in the drawing up of a register.
Having said that, I would like to look first of all at what is available in the ACT now by way of heritage protection
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