Page 216 - Week 01 - Thursday, 13 February 2020
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
contributions to this inquiry. The committee would also like to thank the staff of the healthy country unit within EPSDD, and representatives of Riverview Projects, for their assistance with the inquiry.
Particular themes highlighted in the evidence we received include how Canberra’s landscape is integral to the city’s identity and amenity; how green and blue infrastructure across the city can be improved, enhanced and increased; how planning processes can be improved to ensure better outcomes for the city’s green spaces and nature reserves; how green spaces in the city can be improved to promote greater biodiversity; how community groups can be supported to better contribute to the management of the city’s natural environment; how government can partner with research institutions to ensure that the government’s environment policy is evidence based and world class; how the city’s green spaces can be better protected from weeds and invasive plant species; and how nature in our city is vital to the city’s efforts in adapting to the impacts of climate change.
This inquiry has highlighted what many of us know instinctively: that Canberrans deeply value the city’s bush capital status and wish to see the city’s relationship with its landscape protected and enhanced into the future. So, naturally, the report found that Canberrans greatly value green and blue public spaces within the city and the nature reserves in it and surrounding it, and that nature has significant health, social and economic benefits for the city’s residents.
The report makes 58 recommendations, including, essentially, that the ACT government recommit to the concept of a city in a landscape; that the government develop a city-in-a-landscape strategy and that the government implement a wide range of policies that could stand alone but preferably would form part of, and support, the strategy. The committee believes that these strategic and practical recommendations provide the ACT government with a clear direction on how better to enhance, prioritise, protect and maintain nature in our city to the benefit of all.
We acknowledge that several submissions to the inquiry contained detailed recommendations and suggestions on niche topics and locally specific issues. While we recognise the significance of these topics and issues, the nature of this report, being largely focused on high-level strategic themes, has meant that these recommendations and suggestions have not necessarily been included.
I would like to thank the many members who were part of the committee during the inquiry, including Mr Parton and Ms Lawder, and especially Ms Orr, who was the instigator of the inquiry and the chair for the majority of the time that the inquiry was conducted, including throughout all of the hearings. Thank you to my fellow members Miss Burch and Mr Milligan, who have been a pleasure to work with, including in the crafting of this report.
Mrs Jones interjecting—
MS CHEYNE: I am serious, Mrs Jones! I send extra special thanks to the committee secretariat, including all the secretaries who have worked on this inquiry, Brianna and
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video