Page 1017 - Week 03 - Thursday, 23 March 2017
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
a big effort to immediately respond to graffiti. They do not just say, “It’s on a property that I don’t own, so I don’t care.” If it is in a public space, especially a place where you are wanting a high level of traffic, or where there is a high level of foot traffic, it really could be a good investment to look after these areas.
I am sad to say that I think the government have been caught with their pants down. One glaring problem is that there is no time line for the resolution of these problems. There is no specific time line for when the grass will be re-sown on the green triangles in that square. There is no particular time frame for changes perhaps to access the bus mall, which is down a windy tunnel and a windy set of stairs. It could be built into a much wider open space; the access from the bus mall could be much easier and there could be a more open experience between one and the other. Maybe that will be considered.
I live not far away from Woden, over in Weston Creek. I know we have seen businesses close down, and cafes closing or struggling. The Australia Post office building is now boarded up; they have obviously moved. We just need to know what the government are doing about it. As residents of the bush capital, Canberrans have pride in the parks and the open lands that ACT government preserve. It gives us a chance to live a good lifestyle for much of the time.
I am seriously concerned about the plans for 28-storey buildings, which are extremely high. I do not know all the details, but I have heard there are plans for 28-storey buildings either on or very close to this site. I can understand why residents would be concerned about that. That is a very significant change. I support building up the town centres, but I would question whether 28 storeys is really the best way to do it. It will leave this square in the shade for much of the year. I am not sure that that will help with the green spaces and the ambience of the area, although it would certainly mean there would be a bigger population wandering around there.
I commend Ms Cheyne for recognising the need for additional revitalisation in Woden. I am more than happy to work with the government and the community to take Woden forward into the future. I would love to see that revitalisation reflecting the master plan and addressing the needs of residents, businesses and consumers who travel to Woden. At the moment, with respect to walking through the town square, I sat there the other day at 5 o’clock, just to take it in for a little while. It was getting dark. People were scuttling through to get to the bus or to the shopping centre. I had company there; I was glad I had company there. So I think there is still plenty of work to do in this area. It is good that we are talking about it, but let us see some plans and some time lines for responses on the town square itself.
MS LE COUTEUR (Murrumbidgee) (4.17): I am a Woden resident and of all the places I have lived in in the world, Woden is the place I have lived in the longest. I currently live very close to Woden town centre. My first job in the public service was at the Department of Health, which, as Ms Cheyne mentioned, is no longer in Woden. I worked in both the Alexander and Albemarle buildings. They are the derelict buildings that Mrs Jones was talking about. It is really depressing walking past what used to be really nice places.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video