Page 1710 - Week 06 - Thursday, 3 June 2021
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advising of the closure a few days later, on 24 May. The park is scheduled to be closed again shortly after this for a further three months. Minister, is four days notice what your government considers good community consultation?
MR STEEL: I thank the member for her question. The reason we are undertaking improvements at Tuggeranong dog park is that we know how much this space is valued by our community, people who want to exercise their animals as responsible pet owners. That is why we are undertaking improvements at the park. We undertake those improvements across a variety of different dog parks. That includes Yarralumla at the moment. Works are underway at a variety of different dog parks, and that includes Tuggeranong, and those include additional tree plantings—
Ms Lawder: Point of order, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Steel, resume your seat.
Ms Lawder: My question specifically related to community consultation and whether four days notice was sufficient.
MADAM SPEAKER: It was very early into the minister’s time to answer. I will allow the minister to conclude.
MR STEEL: We know that there are a variety of different parks that are available for people to use at any one time, as well as off-lead spaces that they can use around other parts of Canberra that are not fenced off necessarily. We understand that the community can use those at a time when these improvements are happening.
They are important improvements, because they will see the installation of new irrigation which will make sure that there is plenty of green space for dogs to exercise in as well as other improvements that we will be exploring, including tree planting in the Tuggeranong town centre. These are improvement works that happen from time to time in order to ensure that our assets are fit for purpose, are well maintained and can be used well into the future.
I know, having used Tuggeranong dog park quite a bit myself, that it can be a bit of a dustbowl at times in areas. Many paws have used the dog park over a long period. The park does need this work undertaken. We understand that that may be inconvenient for people, but there are other options for dog owners if they want to exercise their dogs elsewhere and there are other dog parks around Canberra. (Time expired.)
MS LAWDER: Minister, is four days notice what your government considers good community consultation?
MR STEEL: We have given notice that these improvements need to be made. I think the community will understand that there are going to be important improvements for the future of the dog park that are being undertaken by the government. We understand that they may be inconvenient, but there are other spaces for them to use if they want to exercise their animal in a public space.
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