Page 178 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 10 February 2010
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As to the details of the administrative arrangements in relation to the orienteering event which will be conducted, I do not have those in my mind. They may be in the extensive notes I have here; I am not sure. But I will certainly obtain for you, Ms Bresnan, and members of the Assembly the details of all the administrative arrangements and arrangements on access, parking and other facilities that will be provided at the site.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Bresnan?
MS BRESNAN: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Minister, have you ensured that there will be independent monitoring of the impact of the event on the site so that there is better information in the future about the impact of large-scale events on natural areas?
MR STANHOPE: Thank you, Ms Bresnan. Certainly Parks, Conservation and Lands will be closely monitoring the activity. Rangers will be present on a daily basis and will observe proceedings. I must say I have not sought a report, but I would, as a matter of course, have expected that I would receive a post-report brief. It is an issue that we will certainly monitor. It is an experience that we will learn from, as we do with all. It will be monitored and there will be a report.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary, Mr Coe?
MR COE: In a follow-up to the question about the national orienteering event in April, I would like to register the Liberals’ full support for this event. Chief Minister, what support is the ACT government giving for this event and to orienteering generally in the ACT?
MR STANHOPE: Thank you, Mr Coe, and I do appreciate the bipartisan support. I think it is the first for the year. We might chalk it up. I have been tipping that when the leadership challenge comes it will come from Mr Hanson, but, Mr Coe, you might just be the quiet worker. You keep it up, Mr Coe. You do not have those outrageous ego issues, those shocking issues about ego and right to rule, the silver spoon in the mouth, the ruling class syndrome. We might just change the odds in the caucus book, Mr Coe.
The ACT government, of course, makes a $26,000 annual grant for orienteering, Mr Coe. I am not aware of the specific support, but I know that Orienteering ACT and the organisers have been working closely with ACT government agencies, most particularly Parks, Conservation and Lands, in relation to this particular event.
Events such as this are very important for a whole range of reasons in the context of sport and our support of sport and in the context of life here within Canberra and the region. When one actually does look at some of the economic impacts or implications, there are very significant reasons for supporting events such as this.
It is possible that this particular event will bring somewhere in the order of 1,000 people into the ACT. It is an event of an order for a whole range of reasons that the government is pleased to support, whilst accepting, of course, that we do need to be mindful of the areas in which events such as this are pursued.
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