Page 4287 - Week 14 - Thursday, 24 October 1991
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Mr Petersilka applied on 20 August to remove some public seating and erect a sort of private dance floor, in a manner that would have really appropriated to himself a large area of Garema Place. There were problems with the way he had put the application in, and we advised him a couple of days later that he needed to provide some additional details.
We also advised him that we would consult with all the Canberra traders in that area. The Canberra Chamber of Commerce held a meeting of Garema Place traders on 24 September. That meeting of the Garema Place traders opposed Mr Petersilka's proposal. They took the view that what he was wanting to do for his commercial purposes would have interfered with everybody else's commercial purposes.
I think that the Government, in thus saying to Mr Petersilka, "Well, we cannot let you have your way if it is going to upset every other trader", was perfectly fair and reasonable. We consulted in the appropriate manner, through the appropriate forum, which was the Chamber of Commerce, and the near unanimous view of Garema Place traders - everyone apart from Mr Petersilka - was that the proposal should not go ahead, and that remains our position.
Mr Deputy Speaker, my colleague Mr Wood outlined some of the future proposals for that area. The key is getting rid of the electricity station, and perhaps filling in the chess pit. The suggestion that Mr Wood made of a rotunda is something that has always appealed to me because they are prominent features in the landscape - - -
Mr Wood: I was quoting your suggestion.
MR CONNOLLY: Yes. They are prominent features in the landscape of other Australian cities and they can look most attractive.
The one other matter that I wish to raise while I am on my feet briefly is Mr Stevenson's concern about 24-hour loading zones. Mr Stevenson, for some time, has been most concerned about 24-hour loading zones. One wonders whether at some stage someone got a ticket at such an establishment. There are some of these scattered throughout Canberra, principally in Civic. They were established at the request of business. The problem is that on Friday and Saturday nights people habitually park in the ordinary loading zones that operate during commercial hours. Businesses that need access after normal business hours cannot get access if they do not have those loading zones.
We heard concern earlier that there is not adequate entertainment sometimes in Civic. I think you mentioned that yourself, Mr Deputy Speaker. If, for example, a band wishes to set up to play at a venue in Civic - often two or three bands will play during an evening and they need to
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