Page 1477 - Week 04 - Thursday, 12 April 2018

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(7) The design of the Stromlo Leisure Centre has allowed for future expansion and the provision of a dive pool at a later stage.

Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders—Boomanulla Oval
(Question No 1057)

Mr Milligan asked the Minister for Sport and Recreation, upon notice, on 23 March 2018:

(1) Can the Minister provide an update on the status and plans for Boomanulla Oval.

(2) What level of consultation and communication with the (a) Indigenous community, (b) local residents and (c) sporting community has been undertaken to date and has there been anything of note recently.

Ms Berry: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

(1) Since the former Indigenous lessee closed the gates of the facility in late 2014, the ACT Government has worked in collaboration with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body, including through the establishment of an Interim Advisory Group (IAG), with the objective of seeing Boomanulla Oval return to sustainable Indigenous management

This objective underpins a current Request for Tender (RFT) process, following an initial Request for Expression of Interest (REIO). The process was established in consultation with the IAG.

The RFT involves consideration of various complex matters including in relation to a guiding strategy for the site, land tenure, financial and governance arrangements.

While the RFT process is worked through, and in response to community feedback, the ACT Government will soon commence interim work at Boomanulla Oval, enabling the facility to reopen to the community later this year for informal recreation and cultural use.

(2) ACT Government has worked in collaboration with the Elected Body, including through the former IAG, to inform key stakeholders about progress with Boomanulla Oval. This will continue and stakeholder engagement will increase as progress is made in implementing interim works and on resolving longer term arrangements for Boomanulla Oval. There has also been ongoing engagement with Winnunga Nimmityhah (Winnunga), as the respondent to the current RFT.

(a) Indigenous community

Between February 2015 and June 2016 the IAG informed the community of progress leading up to the RFT via a series of communiques distributed electronically by the Elected Body and the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs as well as on the Elected Body Website. Paper copies were also distributed via Winnunga, who has a good reach into the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.


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