Page 1818 - Week 05 - Thursday, 2 April 2009
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
certainly are regrettable and I certainly understand and empathise with the distress that some of those changes have caused. None of us much likes change and adaptation. We do not like upheaval; we do not like uprooting; we do not like the normal, ordinary course of events to be affected or changed. But to move from a sense of regret to a position of asserting that we need, perhaps, to look more broadly in relation to some of our specific policy decisions and to some of the other outcomes really is a very significant leap for government.
I have had recent conversations, as I know have other members of the Assembly, most particularly with the progress association of Hall in relation to certainly community facilities, their maintenance, their enhancement, a future, a future life and an enhanced life and visibility most particularly of the Hall community. I have to say that I am most impressed by the energy, the focus and the determination by the Hall progress association to grasp the opportunities that their unique and beautiful village presents in terms of a new identity and a new future. I certainly do think that, out of the change that Hall certainly has had visited on it as a result of decisions that the government has taken, the community do understand that there are opportunities to be grasped and they are certainly looking to the government to work in partnership with them in relation to that.
I certainly commend the Hall and District Progress Association—I met with three of its membership, led by their president, Alastair Crombie, I think two or three weeks ago almost—for the most constructive discussions on issues that they wish to pursue, the sort of partnership and assistance that they believe the government might be able to provide in areas such as enhancement of the historic, heritage school facilities, landscaping, the potential for a men’s shed, support for a heritage-listed museum, resurfacing of the tennis court and the games court and a refurbishment of perhaps the hub to some extent of Hall, namely, the area around the showground and the showground pavilion. Suffice it to say that I was most impressed by the attitude, the energy and the very positive focus of the progress association in relation to the need to identify, then to grapple with and grasp and to achieve, the opportunities that their particular situation presents them.
I might just say that the Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services is currently working with project manager Hindmarsh, who are in charge of all the new work at the former school sites, to further develop proposals that have been negotiated, most particularly with the Hall community broadly but most specifically with the progress association, in relation to enhancements that we have agreed to fund and support in Hall.
Another issue raised by Mr Crombie—and I am sure it has been raised by the progress association with other members—is the concerns on the mixed commercial-residential development on Victoria Street known as Victoria Square and some of the difficulties that have been experienced there as a result, certainly, of the attitude and actions of the developer. I am in discussion with the Minister for Planning in relation to the steps that the government can take in relation to that particular development. It really is a continuing aggravation for the residents and, quite understandably, a continuing aggravation for the residents of Hall.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .