Page 834 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 20 March 2019
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
whether you are a community group wanting to find a space to meet or just looking for a place to spend time with your friends.
MS CODY: Minister, how is the government working with the community to activate the square?
MR STEEL: I thank Ms Cody for her supplementary. The community has had a huge role to play in the design and development of the new town square. I was pleased to engage in the discovery phase of the Woden experiment earlier last year. It included a hands-on discussion with a room full of Woden residents at a town hall meeting as we explored the square’s future and new ideas.
Now that the Woden experiment is up and running, we are bringing Woden town square to life. Whilst the furniture activations are adding a lot to the square, performances will soon begin as part of the experiment as well. The government is working with Woden Community Service and the Tuggeranong Arts Centre to deliver a program of activities and events to take place during the activation over the next six months, utilising the new stage area in particular. This will give Canberra artists a new venue to perform in.
We are also expecting that there will be a degree of spontaneous performances available to activate this space. We have also had some interest from some yoga groups as part of the activation and using that space. I look forward to seeing the creative events that may be on offer in the square to further enhance this important public space for the Woden community.
MR WALL: Minister, were any existing local traders given the opportunity to hold a pop-up stall, or will they be approached to do so?
MR STEEL: We are very interested in hearing from the entire community about what they can offer to the Woden experiment during the next six months of the activation, particularly performers and artists but also those who may want to run other activities in the square. All this is designed to encourage people to come down and use the square. I hope that Woden residents take up the opportunity to come down.
We will also be doing an evaluation of the number of visitors in the square over the six months.
Mr Wall: Point of order, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: Minister, resume your seat, please.
Mr Wall: Madam Speaker, on relevance, the minister was asked specifically: were existing traders approached to hold a pop-up stall or will they be approached? I ask that he be directly relevant to that.
MADAM SPEAKER: He went into some detail in the answer about consultation and interest in hearing from groups but perhaps in the time that you have left, minister, you might be able to get to that point.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video