Page 3812 - Week 11 - Thursday, 24 November 2022
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(f) the ACT Government is currently developing an Urban Open Space Management Plan which will explore opportunities for better mowing practices, care of urban open space and implementing rewilding initiatives; and
(3) calls on the ACT Government to:
(a) consider and explore options to improve the collection of grass clippings from its mowing program to protect ACT waterways. These options could include:
(i) trialling a dedicated street sweeping program in line with the most intensive mowing and leaf litter seasons;
(ii) training for ACT Government mowing technicians; and
(iii) trialling a post-mowing program to collect grass clippings and other organic matter for proper composting;
(b) consult on the Urban Open Space Management Plan through YourSay, and publish the plan upon completion; and
(c) report back to the Assembly by the last sitting day in September 2023, in line with the commencement of the 2023-24 mowing program.
I rise today to speak to my motion calling on the ACT government to improve the collection of grass clippings and leaf litter as a result of our mowing program to protect ACT’s waterways. This motion arises out of concerns raised by many of my constituents in Tuggeranong who are rightly worried about organic litter flowing into Lake Tuggeranong and causing issues with the overproduction of phosphorus resulting in blue-green algal blooms. The government has invested time and money into educating the community about the impact of organic matter on water quality and yet it seems like these messages are inconsistently applied to our own procedures during heavy mowing seasons such as this.
This is not the first time I have risen in this place to talk about Lake Tuggeranong and I trust it certainly will not be the last. The sheer volume of correspondence I am sure all members for Brindabella receive regarding the crown jewel of Tuggeranong never disappoints or surprises. Last year I conducted a survey of our constituents on the foreshore redevelopment and produced a report that I presented to the minister in which my constituents advocated strongly for increased investments to prevent the growth of blue-green algae in our lake. The significant uptake of this survey and the government’s own consultation process is demonstrative of the interest and care our community have in the health of the lake and their desire to see it developed into a loveable and safe community asset.
Madam Speaker, Lake Tuggeranong is a community fixture. It is the nexus of so many dedicated community groups—including the Lake Tuggeranong and Catchment Carers, the Tuggeranong Community Council, the Southern ACT Catchment Group, the Tuggeranong Sea Scouts and the Tuggeranong Rowing Club, just to name a few—all of whom care for and enjoy the beauty of Lake Tuggeranong all year round. A special mention to Ms Lawder and Mr Parton, who have managed to get up earlier than me on the weekend and participate in a Tuggeranong parkrun. But I promise it is on my list and I cannot wait to get down and give it a crack. The lake and surrounds are home to our library, the Hyperdome—never South.Point, Madam Speaker, and
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