Page 2645 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 21 September 2022
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confident that we can address those in the future. That may include the resubmission of a new development application for a facility in the future.
MR CAIN: Minister, when will a temporary green waste facility be open and functional in Belconnen?
MR STEEL: We will continue to provide green waste facilities until the new facility is open. We will work through the planning system. We are expecting a resubmission of this in the next weeks and months, and then we will see whether it will get approval to move ahead, and we will start construction.
MRS KIKKERT:: Minister, home come your own government cannot communicate effectively between agencies?
MR STEEL: That question shows an astonishing lack of understanding of our planning system! We do have an independent ACT Planning and Land Authority that assesses development applications. There are, of course, a range of issues that have been raised in relation to this particular development through that process. We will be addressing those through the planning system and looking at whether we can resubmit that application to deliver this facility.
Lakes and waterways—swimming safety
MS CLAY: My question is to the minister for parks and conservation. Following a tragic drowning in 2019, the Refugee and Migrant Swimming Project have identified a number of critical safety measures, including signs, life preservers, and the ability to call 000, that they think would make swimming safe at the Cotter and other inland waterways in the ACT. How does the ACT government ensure inland waterways are safe for people to swim and play?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Ms Clay for the question. This covers a number of different ministerial portfolios, but, if I can, I will try to answer all of those. Signage at urban lakes, for example, is management by TCSS. The permitted use of urban waterways, including lakes, is outlined in the urban lakes and ponds strategy. Some examples here are safety signs at Yerrabi Pond and lifesaving measures at high-traffic areas such as the Kingston Foreshore. For rivers, our Parks and Conservation Service manages our rural river corridors. As we come into the summer months, it is important that people are aware of the dangers of swimming in open waterways and, indeed, recreating in rural areas that do not have mobile coverage. Most of the waterways have signage about these dangers and some also have lifesaving items available too.
In regard to the sport and recreation portfolio, Minister Berry is leading some excellent work with Royal Life Saving’s Refugee and Migrant Swimming Project, and she has recently announced recipients for the 2022 sport and rec grants program and funding support of $5,500 to the Royal Life Saving group in support of the Refugee and Migrant Swimming Project. I note the importance of this program as a legacy from the tragic drowning on one of our most popular local waterways. The government will of course continue to work with stakeholders and the community to ensure everyone can enjoy our waterways safely.
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