Page 4185 - Week 14 - Thursday, 25 October 1990
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that had fitted into the Government's decision making. Not surprisingly, we discovered that it had not fitted in at all, that the Government's view on the neighbourhood school concept, the neighbourhood school basis of Canberra, was very clearly summed up by the Rally members particularly, who said in this place some months ago that we still have neighbourhood schools but that it all depends on how you define your neighbourhood. The people of Weetangera still have a neighbourhood school; it is called Hawker. The people of Higgins still have a neighbourhood school.
Mr Moore: It could be called anything.
MR CONNOLLY: It could be called anything. Eventually we may have one school in Canberra, and it will be a neighbourhood school, on that logic.
Mr Collaery: What about North and South Curtin? Which one is the neighbourhood school?
MR CONNOLLY: It is a very good question, because we are moving the schools constantly. This whole idea of neighbourhood schools is being thwarted by this Alliance Government. It is a joke. To suggest that it is acting consistently with this basic planning principle of Canberra, Mr Deputy Speaker, is a joke. Mr Jensen said that planning is about compromise. The Government is not compromising the neighbourhood school planning concept; it is abandoning it lock, stock and barrel.
The basic understanding of Canberra has always been that it would not be a constantly growing city throughout its urban environment. While Canberra would continue to grow, there would be the normal peaks and troughs in the various parts of this community. A clear example of this is the Metropolitan Canberra Policy Plan of July 1984 in which the NCDC, in discussing the Y-plan developments, the then projected growth for Tuggeranong and Gungahlin, said:
Throughout the period of urban expansion in Tuggeranong and Gungahlin, redevelopment of the older parts of Canberra will be increasing in response to demands by small households, single adults and groups for medium-density housing close to the main employment nodes in the Central Area and to the entertainment and cultural activities located in Civic Centre.
It noted that as Canberra grows this demand will increase. But, Mr Deputy Speaker, what is this Government doing to take account of this obvious demographic fact that suburbs will peak and trough, that there will be growth and decline in the make-up of any suburban area at any one time? It is shutting the schools and flogging off the sites for medium density development. As I said earlier, Townhouse Trevor, the Chief Minister, will long be remembered by the communities whose schools he has closed.
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