Page 2792 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 17 August 2005
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fundamental areas of development, planning and policy within our city areas, across the full spectrum of community activity, covering our economic wellbeing and potential for growth through the social life of the city, as reflected through the Canberra social plan. Of course the look and feel for the planning of the city, and our determination to make the city one of the modern age and a city that is truly sustainable, were reflected through the major work undertaken in the spatial plan and the spatial planning process. That very much represented the first major piece of planning that had been undertaken in a spatial sense in the city for nigh on 20 years. The spatial plan is a plan that will not only stand the test of time but also will ensure that the ACT, in its decisions, maintains its reputation as the pre-eminent planned sustainable living city of the world. Of course, that is what all the disparate parts of the Canberra plan are designed to achieve.
I will devote the majority of my comment today to that part of the plan that I had specific oversight of, namely, the Canberra social plan. Almost 15 months ago, we released Building our community: the Canberra social plan. That document is a significant part of the Canberra plan and it incorporates our thinking. While acknowledging our successes in many areas, Building our community: the Canberra social plan is about ensuring that we keep doing the things we do so well, that we continue to enjoy Canberra’s diversity, its cultural facilities, and its open spaces, and that we raise and educate our children in the best environment possible—a safe, healthy cohesive community.
The building our community document articulates the longer-term key strategic social objectives of the ACT government. It is intended as a long-term blueprint and establishes seven priority areas to guide policy makers over the next 10 to 15 years. The priorities and goals of the Canberra social plan emphasise the importance of helping Canberrans in need—and we are genuine about this—so that we all reach our potential, make a contribution, and share the benefits of the community. I am very pleased that a record of the significant progress in addressing the seven social priorities of the building our community plan has been prepared, and will be released publicly very shortly. It is important that we measure our progress regularly, as these priorities are helping to guide our decision making over a minimum of the next decade, and perhaps as long as, I would expect, up to the next 15 years.
The report that we will be delivering in relation to the implementation of the Canberra social plan will outline progress in some detail and will provide a signpost to the future of how the ACT government intends to continue to meet its commitments and confront the challenges presented in understanding and addressing the social disparities present in our community. There are some actions described that I am particularly proud the government has achieved as part of the first year and a half of the building our community plan. These include the opening of the Gungahlin Child and Family Centre, and the commencement of services on exactly the same model in Tuggeranong, the activities of the community inclusion board, under the leadership of Hugh Mackay, to develop and promote community inclusion, and a wide variety of celebratory events for all Canberrans to enjoy at Christmas and New Year, and on Australia Day and Canberra Day.
I was pleased that the ACT government was a significant supporter of the Victory in the Pacific celebrations, which were held just this last weekend. We were a partner with the commonwealth government in the funding of those celebrations. I am particularly
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