Page 109 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 27 November 2012
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MR RATTENBURY (Molonglo—Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Housing, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs and Minister for Ageing) (4.39): I am pleased to be able to speak on this issue today. Being a long-term Canberran, I know that next year’s centenary is an exciting year for this city and already there have been some tremendous events as part of the build-up. I think of the maps of Canberra exhibition at the National Library, which I attended, and the very interesting event held at Telstra tower or Black Mountain tower where one of the original Canberra design competition boxes was cut open and the old cycloramas were taken out very carefully.
Already there have been some tremendous events, and our centenary year will be 12 months of celebrations and observation and I believe it will somehow touch and enrich the lives of each and every Canberran, from those due to be born in the months ahead to those who have lived here for many decades.
I also endorse Mr Smyth’s remarks about the necessity—and I have said this publicly on a number of occasions—of this being an event for all Australians. I know the centenary team are working hard to encourage the rest of Australia to join the celebrations and to share pride in everybody's national capital, because that is what this city is, and I hope that the tremendous program of events will draw a range of people from across the country to our city next year.
As the Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, I would like to inform the house about a couple of special projects being pursued by TAMS for the centenary year. These include the centenary bus loop, which will provide a free loop-bus service from the city centre through to the parliamentary triangle to enable visitors and locals alike to visit centenary-related events within the city and the parliamentary triangle. This will operate from 1 February next year through to 31 December, on half-hourly trips, from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm, seven days a week. It is a free service and one that I am sure will be very popular with both tourists and locals alike.
Another project for next year that TAMS is instrumental in is the Canberra centenary trail. This arose from community submissions received in 2009 as part of the Canberra 100 call for centenary projects. The trail is intended to showcase Canberra, taking users on a seamless journey between urban, natural and rural environments and incorporating the iconic sites and hidden treasures of the ACT. The 140-kilometre trail will predominantly use existing trails that already permit pedestrian and cycle use. It will have a symbolic start/stop point within the parliamentary triangle and will be divided into daily legs, spaced to service walkers over seven days and bike riders over three days. And users will be able to join and leave the trail in many locations.
I have been pleased to see that there have been modifications from the first design. Certainly significant concerns were raised by some key groups around Canberra who care for our nature parks about the cutting of trails through new areas and particularly sensitive areas, areas of good-quality or high-quality woodlands and areas where significant restoration has taken place. I am glad to see that modifications have been made and certainly, as the new minister, I will be following through on ensuring that the trail is both a wonderful tourist drawcard that showcases some of the real
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