Page 2395 - Week 06 - Thursday, 23 June 2011
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
Planning—community space
MS PORTER: My question is to the Minister for Territory and Municipal Services. Would the minister advise the Assembly how the government ensures that community public spaces such as the community park in Holt are maintained so that Canberrans can continue to get great benefits from them.
MR CORBELL: I thank Ms Porter for her question. I know of her strong interest in issues affecting her electorate and I am very pleased that she is raising this issue today.
The government has an extensive program to make sure that public parks and other spaces for the community are well maintained. The territory has 489 playgrounds and nine skate parks spread fairly evenly across the city. All of our urban parks are inspected and maintained for safety and cleanliness at least once a week. Any maintenance, vandalism or cleanliness issues are attended to as soon as is feasible. Indeed, any playground or other equipment that is assessed as unsafe is cordoned off and made safe until such repairs can be carried out.
Many of the urban parks, rural reserves and campgrounds in the ACT have barbecue facilities, and there are around 90 in Ms Porter’s electorate of Ginninderra. They also see electric barbecues out in these parks, and gas barbecues. These are well maintained and are very popular facilities.
In relation to parks in Holt, as for the rest of the electorate of Ginninderra and indeed right across the city, the government has a very effective and responsive program in place where we see all of these parks inspected on a regular basis.
MS PORTER: A supplementary.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Porter.
MS PORTER: Thank you. Will the minister please provide an update on progress to provide mulch to the Holt community park and support to the proposed Holt community park carers and its foundation member, Mr Harry Redfern?
MR CORBELL: I thank Ms Porter for the question. I was very pleased to learn of the efforts of Ms Porter’s constituent, Mr Harry Redfern, and the Holt community park carers. This is a great example of our community working to enhance their local amenity.
Mr Harry Redfern, who lives in Holt, became concerned at the state of the Holt community park. As members of the Assembly would be aware, this summer we had a period of prolonged unseasonable and very wild weather. Weeds had sprouted in each of the newly established gardens at the two main entrances. Mr Redfern contacted his local member, Ms Porter, and proposed that if the government could provide the mulch, he would weed and mulch the garden himself and would also approach other retirees in the area to participate.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video