Page 818 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 27 February 2013
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
Where exactly in Tuggeranong those wetlands need to go is not yet known, and I think it is best to leave that up to the water experts to determine. But I am certainly looking forward to seeing those important environmental improvement facilities installed in the Tuggeranong valley. They have been very successful on Sullivans Creek in helping to address the water quality issues in that waterway, and we now need to take those successful policies and expand them to the rest of Canberra, particularly Tuggeranong.
In summary, let me simply say that the Greens are very keen to see the provision of government community facilities improved in southern Tuggeranong, and we will keenly await the outcome of the community needs analysis that is in the parliamentary agreement to give us an indication of what are the priority services. We might find that a library is on top of the needs lists, but, then again, we might find that it is actually a pool, or perhaps a basketball court is the answer. We might find that it is all of them or it could be something else entirely which I have not mentioned. It is really important that there is a level of engagement with the community to ask some of those questions.
I was surprised at the time frame in the original motion to have a report back by the last sitting day in May 2013. That would negate the ability of the community to contribute to a needs analysis. It is far better to use a time frame that enables community contribution to that discussion. Certainly, that is an approach that is being taken with the Tuggeranong park master plan at the moment. Again, whilst obviously not in the Lanyon valley, it is a facility used by many residents nearby, including those from the Lanyon valley. A very good process of community consultation has gone on, and that has identified particular issues of interest to the community. It is essential that we take both community desires and local community knowledge on board in order to ensure we get the best plan for the town park as we move forward.
The Greens look forward to the outcome of the analysis identified in the parliamentary agreement and look forward to continuing to improve life for the residents of southern Tuggeranong. I will be voting in support of Ms Burch’s amendment.
MR SMYTH (Brindabella) (12.13): One gets the sense that Mr Rattenbury is kind of gleeful to be the only Green here. Unrestrained by his colleagues, he can be the progressive Green. It is interesting that he virtually missed Lanyon in his speech. From memory, I think the Greens got about five per cent of the vote in Lanyon; five per cent. They were actually outpolled by the Motorist Party. So the lone Green talking about the people of Lanyon and doorknocking the people of Lanyon is somewhat of a joke.
Mr Wall and I doorknocked every house in Lanyon. Zed was there. Nicole was there. Val was there. We did not meet too many Greens out on the trail. The interesting thing is that when you go and talk to people you get a sense of what they want. Yes, the issue of wood smoke was raised with me when I was doorknocking, I think by one person. It might have been by two people.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video