Page 1871 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 2 June 2015

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Club. The passing traffic supported the commercial accommodation that was established in the area. The Inner South Veterinary Centre has also established its operations in the area.

When the Monaro Highway was built in the 1980’s, and subsequently provided the main route between Canberra and Cooma, the level of passing inter-state traffic declined and the viability and location of the commercial accommodation as an inter-state stopover changed. Subsequently, requests to change the land use policy were received from the land owners and were supported.

When a draft Territory Plan variation is released for public comment the community will have a further opportunity to provide further input on the proposed changes.

It is also worth noting that the Territory Plan and development application process requires the newest development to demonstrate that appropriate noise attenuation measures are in place through a noise management plan, reflecting that the ACT, in effect, has an ‘agent of change’ principle in place through existing regulation.

Schools—Telopea Park—petition No 6-15

MR DOSZPOT (Molonglo): I seek leave to make a statement.

Leave granted.

MR DOSZPOT: Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is a sad indictment on the ability of a government to communicate and work with a community when its citizens are reduced to collecting signatures to demonstrate how upset they are with a government decision. It is an even more unacceptable fact when this decision affects a public entity—in this case a public school—and when it is their own education minister and former education minister that have both failed them so completely.

Telopea Park School is the victim of a land grab that has been foisted upon it without explanation or apology. Its current tennis courts are to be bulldozed to make way for a new childcare centre—a centre not wanted by the current operators of the existing childcare facility, a facility not asked for by the community and a facility that will only cause angst, anguish and anxiety due to its genesis and its location.

Telopea Park School is one of Canberra’s iconic public schools. It rates well in NAPLAN results. It is unique in that it is a bilingual school of some standing within international education circles, endorsed by the French government and delivering a French curriculum. It has a passionate and loyal staff, student and parent community that supports the school and its activities. I would like to recognise that members of the Telopea Park School community are here to join us for this presentation today.

This community has been shabbily treated by this government and this Chief Minister. The school and the parents have had absolutely no support in any way, shape or form from the education minister. The community and I are not surprised, sadly, by this lack of support by a government that should know better.


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