Page 2706 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 21 September 2022

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In most cases, footpaths are designed for people and bikes. However, to include skateboarding in these spaces by widening footpaths, or an additional path off to the side, creates a segmented area for both skaters and foot traffic to coincide and interact. This can lead to freedom to use spaces to their full ability and provide further community connections and recreational enjoyment. I thank you for taking time to listen to this proposal regarding the lack of incidental skate facilities throughout Murrumbidgee, and what can be done to fix the issue.

Belconnen electorate—community events

MS CHEYNE (Ginninderra—Assistant Minister for Economic Development, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Business and Better Regulation, Minister for Human Rights and Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (5.41): Given that we have just one day for adjournment speeches, I might do a quick whip-around of a few things that have happened in the last little while. Our city has been very busy, indeed, and I think we can all agree that there is a new sense of optimism and movement, not least with spring, but also with the COVID numbers trending right down. I think it is fair to say that that has come as a relief to us all.

First of all, last night was the Belconnen Community Council annual general meeting. At that meeting, Glen Hyde, who has been the chair for the last five years—indeed he has given everyone quite a bit of heads-up—confirmed that he would not be standing again as chair, as he will be retiring elsewhere. But he is staying on, at least in the interim, as deputy chair, as we welcomed Lachlan Butler last night as chair. But through that transition, while we have got more time to continue to work with Glen, I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank him for all that he has done for Belconnen, particularly through the council. As chair, his leadership has always taken a really considered view, and he has provided very strong representation to the community, particularly on issues of community infrastructure, but also delivering a real message about Belconnen pride. He always proudly referred to Belconnen as the jewel in Canberra’s crown, and I think we can all strongly agree with that!

I also give a very big thanks and congratulations to three young Canberrans, who I spent some time with, judging their cooking creations at the Capital Region Farmers Market on the weekend in the Canberra’s Best Young Aspiring Chef competition. Of course, the Capital Region Farmers Market is run by the Rotary Club of Hall. This was their marketing manager Sarah’s idea to further the values of supporting local and buying local and engaging with local producers. The idea promotes the superior taste of fresh produce and produce that does not have to travel far, and looks at how we can we promote those values to people from a young age.

From 15 young Canberrans aged under 16 who submitted recipes created with ingredients from the farmers’ market, it was whittled down to just three. Amalija, who was 13, and Charlie and Leeland, who were both 10. I was very proud to be a judge there. I might not be much of a cook, but I certainly am pretty good at knowing what tastes good! We were joined by the president of the Rotary Club of Hall as well as chef Gerald Ong from Project Enoki. It is fair to say that Charlie’s strawberry and chocolate clafoutis won out on the day, but just by a whisker. It was such a tight


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