Page 3502 - Week 08 - Thursday, 23 August 2012
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When it comes to water conservation and management, additional funding for parks, conservation and land was expected in this year’s budget and is urgently needed to address fire management, erosion, pest management and illegal activities on the lower Cotter Dam. However, this has not been allocated. This resourcing is critical for protecting the water quality of the enlarged Cotter Dam.
Whilst $750,000 to clean up waterways following storms has been allocated this year, the budget has not made any significant investment in the forward-looking integrated approach to water management that our watercourses and catchments need. Ongoing funding for weed management in Lake Burley Griffin is needed, and there is a pronounced absence of support for community groups to monitor and maintain our waterways. The Greens are committed to protecting the health of our precious water resources, which is why we recently announced our healthy lakes and waterways package.
Whilst funding has been allocated until 2013-14 for the completion of the inner north wetlands, no further funding has been allocated for the continued rollout of wetlands. This is worrying given the many benefits that these projects have already delivered, such as water quality improvements, water savings, flood management and increased local biodiversity. We will continue to push for this important work to occur.
In conclusion, whilst this budget maintains some crucially important measures and delivers some important new funding, the scale of commitment is less than we would have hoped for. (Second speaking period taken.) As I say, when it comes to environmental issues, the scale of commitment, even taking into account the tight financial circumstances we find ourselves in, is less than we would have hoped for.
The ACT needs smarter investment in measures to boost renewable energy, expand energy, increase energy literacy and ensure energy equity. We need to better protect our natural assets, our lakes, reserves, parks and watercourses, rather than leaving them prey to the pressures of urban sprawl, introduced species and climate change. The further we delay environmental and climate action, the more it will cost us in the future, socially, ecologically and economically. Environmental investment cannot and should not be seen as peripheral to the main business of this city. That is the very fundamental reason why we need to make the investment in a timely manner.
We look forward to continuing to pursue these issues, both through the campaign and in the next Assembly.
MS BRESNAN (Brindabella) (11.13): I will speak briefly to transport planning, a part of the directorate. The Greens are pleased to see the continuation of work on developing Adelaide Avenue bus stops to take advantage of the popular Blue Rapid route. If it is done right, this change has the potential to give a significant number of people better access to public transport services.
I will also comment on the planning of transport into the new Molonglo suburbs. The budget contains $250,000 for the extension of John Gorton Drive to the Molonglo stage 2 development. We would like to see the design of this road allow for public
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