Page 2994 - Week 08 - Thursday, 15 August 2019

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heating, ventilation and air-conditioning upgrades at the Mount Rogers community centre; three new roofs for the Pearce Community Centre buildings; a new men’s shed at the Hughes Community Centre; and refurbishment of the wet areas at the Spence Children’s Cottage.

We will be taking steps to ensure that all our facilities are safe, accessible and comfortable for Canberrans to use. We will be investing $1.2 million to improve safety, upgrade buildings and remove hazardous materials, and half a million dollars to refurbish older buildings to improve energy efficiency. Four early childhood centres will benefit from half a million dollars worth of upgrades, and heritage buildings like Albert Hall will receive $425,000 worth of revitalisation works.

The government recognises the invaluable contributions that men’s sheds play in our community, providing a place for older men to connect socially and give back to the community across the ACT. In recognition of that, we are looking forward to the construction of a new men’s shed in Hughes, which is being supported through the budget.

The government knows how important community facilities are to Canberrans and the variety of uses that they provide, from early childhood centres to places of worship, meeting rooms, performance venues and much more. The range of benefits is enormous. I look forward to seeing how the continued investment that we are making through the budget can further enhance the work of our vital community organisations.

I commend this part of the budget to the Assembly.

Debate interrupted in accordance with standing order 74 and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for a later hour.

Sitting suspended from 11.59 am to 2.00 pm.

Questions without notice

Access Canberra—unkempt properties

MR COE: Madam Speaker, my question is to the Minister for Business and Regulatory Services regarding a property in Kaleen with hundreds of whitegoods in the front and back yards and on adjacent public land. The evidence suggests that the owner is operating a scrap metal and whitegoods storage business, and perhaps even sales.

As you would be aware, Minister, numerous controlled activity orders have been issued for decades. These orders have required the lessee to remove all second-hand appliances, waste materials and scrap metals from various precincts. Minister, why are all these goods still there, including on adjacent public land?

MR RAMSAY: I thank Mr Coe for his question. In terms of the particular matters in relation to the property in Delegate Street in Kaleen, I want to put it in context.

Mr Hanson: Nothing like naming the street.


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