Page 4474 - Week 15 - Thursday, 22 November 1990
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Finance Bureau
Proposed expenditure - Division 230 - Finance, $6,177,100 - agreed to.
Parks and Conservation Bureau
Proposed expenditure - Division 240 - Environment and Conservation, $46,084,900
MR COLLAERY (Attorney-General) (11.51): I stand simply to put on record the admiration in which I hold the Parks and Conservation Service in this city. I think most members would be aware of the enormous and wide-reaching work that the service does, from the outer regions of rural ACT to the city areas. I think it is an appropriate time for me to put on the record, considering my very strong views on the environment and the greening of Canberra, how committed that service is to the preservation of our hilltop areas, the city and environs, and our rural areas.
MR JENSEN (11.52): Mr Speaker, I wish to follow on from what Mr Collaery has said and once again support the comments that he has made in relation to this matter. I think it is also important to acknowledge that many members of the Parks and Conservation Service operate outside normal working hours, particularly on weekends in their dealings with community groups and organisations. I recall at the function that the people of Pialligo had recently there was a large number of those officers there with their families, and I think it was a very important aspect. I think we owe a debt of gratitude for the dedication of the many members of the Parks and Conservation Service in their approach to environmental issues and problems within the ACT.
MR MOORE (11.53): Mr Speaker, it is very nice to hear those views expressed, and in many ways I share them. But that does not stop me drawing attention to some of the problems. I think it is appropriate that, at a time like this, we draw attention to some of the associated attitudes and problems.
My attention was drawn to them through the Standing Committee on Conservation, Heritage and Environment, when we looked at the tracking stations at Honeysuckle Creek and Orroral Valley. Those tracking stations, which have great historical significance, were in such a state of disrepair that the committee decided that they could not be used in any of the normal ways that we would consider. It seems to me, though, that there was a problem about the fact that they had been so badly vandalised in the last five years. It also seems to me - I have taken advice on this - that it was not a particularly difficult matter to avoid having them vandalised. Next to the Orroral Valley tracking station is a currently operating high-technology facility which is protected and which is not vandalised.
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