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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 9 Hansard (27 August) . . Page.. 3249 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

I've been convinced that the proposal for a commercial liquor barn on this site does place these trees in grave danger. In particular, my interest is in the lack of really thorough, long-term, hydrological studies. We know the Commissioner for the Environment found that the development control plan prepared before the sale of the block took little account of the value of the trees and questioned whether there was any commitment to protect the trees at any length of time beyond the construction period. As I outlined, I'm not arguing that this liquor barn development not occur; rather that it occur elsewhere.

I have had correspondence from a constituent who has found other sites in the same area that are not sensitive, environmentally or socially, and seem suitable for further development. One such site is section 20, which is bordered by Rae Street, Josephson Street and Bayles Street in Belconnen. This site is only a few blocks from the proposed site, and I think it's worth, at the very least, approaching the developer to see if a land swap could be acceptable. As I understand it, the government has made no effort in this regard.

The saga of the yellow box/red gum stand of trees on Nettlefold Street illustrates the problem we have when there is disharmony between the planning regime and the mechanisms for protecting important trees, wildlife habitat and community amenity.

On the latter: I've been working with the community group who's been trying to save this block for a long time now, and I have to say that I've been very impressed by the strength of feeling that's been exhibited from the broader community. As if often the case, there is a small group of people who continue to campaign with a lot of energy and commitment. But I have seen, from my work with them, the community support.

On a number of occasions I've been at the block itself where the community group has held events, varying from just meetings, a gathering of artists who were celebrating the beauty and magnificence of these old trees, gatherings of community members talking about the impact that this block has on their sense of place in regard to the Belconnen Town Centre in particular.

There's always been a sign up when we've had those gatherings saying, "Please toot if you want to save these trees."I've been at a lot of events over the years where that's been done, and I have been really impressed by how many people toot their horns very loudly when we're there. It's quite overwhelming to stand there with a group and see the response from the community. Of course there are petitions and other mechanisms through which we've been able to seek community support for this block.

I do also want to commend Helen Brewer and her colleagues for the commitment to saving this block. It's been a very creative campaign. I've been really interested in the number of artists who have wanted to lend their weight to the campaign and recently I've felt privileged to open an art exhibition in the Belconnen library which was to celebrate the beauty of nature and the trees and, in particular, to raise some support for the Nettlefold Street block.

I'll just say in conclusion, again, that we support this motion in the hope that the Assembly can meet the challenge that is before us at the moment, which is to preserve our natural heritage and community spaces while allowing development to occur.

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