Page 2113 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 5 June 2019

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MADAM SPEAKER: Members, if the minister needs the member to repeat the question, she will ask. If not, let her conclude her answer.

MS BERRY: What I can say is that the matter is being investigated by police, and in the first instance we should let that continue in these circumstances.

Canberra—community facilities

MR PETTERSSON: My question is to the Minister for Community Services and Facilities. Minister, how is the ACT government boosting community infrastructure for our growing city?

MR STEEL: I thank Mr Pettersson for his question. As our city continues to grow, our government is investing in the infrastructure and services that our community needs. One of the priorities, as outlined by the Treasurer yesterday, is providing more community facilities and community infrastructure in our suburbs.

We know that community centres are hubs of activity and are essential parts of our town centres across Canberra. To ensure that our community centres continue to provide for Canberrans, we will be repairing and refurbishing Belconnen community centre, which has been providing excellent services to our community since 1987.

Mount Rogers Community Centre, Spence Children’s Cottage, the Maitland centre and Tuggeranong Community Centre will also receive upgrades ranging from roof repairs and heating and ventilation upgrades to improving the environment for staff and community groups. Families and children also benefit from our government’s investments in new playgrounds for our city to support children’s physical health and wellbeing.

Every region in Canberra will see the construction of new and upgraded playgrounds: Richardson and Kambah in Tuggeranong, Waramanga in Weston Creek, Torrens in Woden Valley, Narrabundah in central Canberra, Higgins in Belconnen, and Yerrabi Pond in Gungahlin. All of these suburbs will see new and upgraded playgrounds with a better mix of equipment and activities that cater for more ages, abilities and play styles.

Some of these playgrounds will be based on designs done in consultation with the community as part of last year’s play space reviews that are currently underway. Kambah and Gungahlin will benefit from new nature play spaces, which will provide creative and imaginative experiences for children using natural elements like logs, rocks and dry waterbeds to encourage children to climb, jump and explore.

MR PETTERSSON: Minister, how will the government make it easier for Canberrans to access community facilities in our suburbs?

MR STEEL: I thank Mr Pettersson for his supplementary. The government understands the importance of making it easier for Canberrans to move around our city and to access services. As we build more community facilities and infrastructure


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