Page 4003 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 30 November 2022
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Watson—off-leash dog area and improved amenities—petition 5-22
By Mr Steel, Minister for Transport and City Services, 29 November 2022, in response to a petition lodged by Ms Vassarotti on 20 September 2022 concerning the mowing of the off-leash dog area in Watson.
The response read as follows:
Dear Mr Duncan
Thank you for your letter of 20 September 2022 regarding petition 5-22, lodged by Ms Rebecca Vassarotti MLA, requesting the inclusion of the off-leash dog area between Stirling Avenue and Antill Street in Watson on a regular mowing schedule, and the addition of rubbish bins in the area.
In response to the request for the area to be included on the regular mowing schedule, Transport Canberra and City Services (TCCS) has added the off-leash dog area in Watson, between Antill Street and Stirling Avenue, to the City Services annual suburban mowing program. This area will generally be mown every four weeks during peak growing periods and every two to three months at other times of the year. I am advised that mowing was completed in the area on 13 September and 20 October 2022 of this mowing season.
Please note that the TCCS mowing program has been under significant pressure this season due to above average rainfall and high soil saturation levels, which causes rapid grass growth as well as a reduction in the available mowing days. This has disrupted the mowing program, however TCCS staff are striving to maintain the program as far as possible.
In response to the request for additional bins, TCCS provides bins in town and district parks, public areas of shopping and town centres, some popular lookouts, bus interchanges, fenced dog parks and some other high use/demand areas. Sportsgrounds also have bins available for use by groups that book the fields. However, bins are not provided at bus stops, most urban open space playgrounds and lower use parks. Where no bins are located, it is the ACT Government’s policy that people using public urban open spaces are responsible for taking their rubbish with them and disposing of it in an appropriate manner. Maintaining clean urban open spaces requires a whole-of-community effort and cannot be undertaken by Government alone. TCCS implements a regular litter-picking program in this area however, if the presence of litter increases, installing a bin may be considered in the future.
I trust this information is of assistance.
Motion to take note of petitions
MADAM SPEAKER: Pursuant to standing order 98A, I propose the question:
That the petitions and response so lodged be noted.
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