Page 595 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 30 March 2021
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They were really worried about the transition of management to the ACT Property Group. I was pleased to see an email from your office this morning about it, but I still have some concerns about community space. Will all the community users who want to use Humpy Hall be able to access it under the new arrangements, and how much are they going to have to pay?
MR STEEL: I thank Ms Clay for her question. Yes, the ACT Property Group has taken over the management of Humpy Hall in Scullin, which was previously subleased to the South Belconnen Community Association. Bookings can be made online, at humpyhallbookings@act.gov.au. The booking rates will not change from those of the previous organisation, with hiring from $18 per hour.
To give a bit of background to support my answer, let me say that a number of concerns have been raised with the government in relation to access to Humpy Hall by community organisations. The ACT government, through the ACT Property Group, tried to ascertain how the hall was being utilised under the management of the South Belconnen Community Association but was unable to determine that because no information was provided.
On 11 November 2020 a breach notice was issued by the ACT Property Group to the SBCA for failing to provide a financial statement, occupancy rates, utilisation rates, total revenue received and copies of the waiting list. The SBCA were given 28 days to remedy this breach and no information was provided by them during that time frame. That resulted in the Property Group issuing a termination notice on 8 February which came into effect on 11 March. A termination was communicated to the SBCA in a range of different ways. I have also sent correspondence to members of the SBCA executive.
That is why the hall has ultimately come under the control of Venues Canberra, who will be undertaking the bookings. We hope that this will have the outcome of providing access to more community groups and better utilisation of this important community space, which is owned by the ACT government.
MS CLAY: How is the ACT government going to ensure that, as our population grows, we are providing enough free community meeting spaces to keep up with demand?
MR STEEL: At the election, the Labor Party committed to building a range of new community centres. That includes the new community space and library in Molonglo, which we are looking forward to co-designing with the community, which will be located in the new Molonglo commercial centre. There are plans underway with the Woden community centre, and also in Gungahlin. We know that we need to meet the needs of the community in a range of different ways. That includes our multicultural community and the commitment that was provided, in consultation with that community, for a 10,000 square metre meeting space and events venue which will be located at EPIC in the future.
We will continue to discuss the needs of the community, but we know that the existing properties that fall under the ACT Property Group, which are many and
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